Article
Science drivers and requirements for an Advanced Technology Large Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST): Implications for technology development and synergies with other future facilities
"Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave"
(2010)
Abstract
The Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST) is a concept for an 8-meter to 16-meter UVOIR space observatory for launch in the 2025-2030 era. ATLAST will allow astronomers to answer fundamental questions at the forefront of modern astronphysics, including "Is there life elsewhere in the Galaxy?" We present a range of science drivers that define the main performance requirements for ATLAST (8 to 16 milliarcsec angular resolution, diffraction limited imaging at 0.5 {\mu}m wavelength, minimum collecting area of 45 square meters, high sensitivity to light wavelengths from 0.1 {\mu}m to 2.4 {\mu}m, high stability in wavefront sensing and control). We will also discuss the synergy between ATLAST and other anticipated future facilities (e.g., TMT, EELT, ALMA) and the priorities for technology development that will enable the construction for a cost that is comparable to current generation observatory-class space missions.
Keywords
- Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST); ultraviolet/optical space telescopes,
- astrophysics,
- astrobiology,
- technology development
Disciplines
Publication Date
2010
Publisher Statement
This paper was harvested from ArXiv.org and ArXiv identifier is arXiv:1008.1942
Citation Information
Marc Postman, Tom Brown, Kenneth Sembach, Mauro Giavalisco, et al.. "Science drivers and requirements for an Advanced Technology Large Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST): Implications for technology development and synergies with other future facilities" "Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave" Vol. 7731 (2010) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/mauro_giavalisco/35/