PHOENIX — A new initiative backed by billionaires is set to revolutionize space exploration. Schmidt Sciences, led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife, Wendy, announced the launch of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System on January 7. This system features four observatories, including Lazuli, a space telescope that promises to be bigger and more efficient than Hubble.
Lazuli boasts a primary mirror measuring three meters in diameter, which is larger than Hubble’s 2.4-meter mirror. It is designed to operate in a unique orbit around Earth and will be equipped with advanced imaging tools. Pete Klupar, Lazuli’s project director, claims they can develop this telescope in just three years and at only 10% of the cost of traditional NASA missions, which can run into the billions.
While Klupar didn’t provide exact numbers, he noted that Lazuli’s budget is expected to be in the hundreds of millions. This telescope aims to reshape how space science is conducted by focusing on proven technology and minimizing risks. About 80% of its components will come from existing space missions.
Lazuli’s development is on an accelerated timeline, with plans for a preliminary design review this spring and a potential launch by mid-2028. Klupar and his team are streamlining the building process by assembling all parts near Cape Canaveral, potentially foregoing some standard tests to speed up deployment.
This initiative doesn’t just include Lazuli; it features three additional observatories that will work together. Among them is the Argus Array, which is a network of over 1,200 small telescopes designed to survey the northern sky. It’s aimed at tracking objects in space and has applications in optical communications. Additionally, there’s the Deep Synoptic Array, which will capture real-time radio images, and the Large Fiber Array Spectroscopic Telescope, focused on gathering data on stars and galaxies.
These observatories aim to keep up with discoveries from instruments like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. They will also react swiftly to cosmic events like supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. Astrophysicist Saul Perlmutter, a Nobel Prize winner, believes Lazuli could provide answers to ongoing questions in cosmology about the universe’s expansion.
The Schmidt Observatory System is not just a singular project; it represents a shift in how we approach astrophysics. Arpita Roy, who leads the astrophysics institute at Schmidt Sciences, emphasizes that these observatories are interconnected and crucial for new discoveries. “We think these observatories not only answer existing questions but also open up new pathways for exploration,” she noted.
As technology advances, the field of astrophysics often sees breakthroughs coincide with new instruments. The Schmidt Observatory System aims to harness this momentum and share scientific findings widely through open data initiatives, setting a new standard for the future.
For more details on this exciting project, you can read the full story on SpaceNews.
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