Fiber Optic-Linked Mobile Telescopes for Satellite Debris Surveys

Experts with the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) say that they want to create a new type of telescope technology, one that would enable them to complete Phoenix. The latter is a project that seeks to reclaim and reuse old satellite parts for creating new spacecraft.

These new vehicles would be used for a variety of applications, ranging from scientific to military, and would reduce the need to launch new rockets. These events are the primary drivers of space pollution.

Currently, several of Earth's orbits are clogged with hundreds of thousands of space debris, which are starting to pose a real danger for spacecraft trying to make their way to other destinations in the solar system, as well as to satellites that are already in orbit.

By combining these pieces of space junk together in functional spacecraft, DARPA would essentially take care of two problems at the same time – reduce costs associated with exploring space and cleaning out those clogged orbits.

One of the things that needs to happen before this project can move forward is the development of a “swarm” of ground-based telescope, interconnected via fiber optics. These instruments would observe the same candidates from different angles.

Such studies would enable experts to figure out exactly how fast the objects are traveling, as well as their exact speed. Both factors will be very important during the orbital maneuvering that will allow the assembly spacecraft to put those pieces together into something useful, Space reports.

“We know the fiber-optic control community is engaged in precision control of light. If those solutions could be meshed with the unique demands of astronomic imaging, we could develop a new means of better, faster imaging of objects in” geosynchronous orbit, Lt. Col. Travis Blake explains.

The official, an officer with the US Air Force, is the Phoenix program manager at DARPA. He adds that current ground-based telescopes are too rigid, and unable to conduct the type of investigations needed for this particular project.

The USAF estimates that 1.5-meter (5-foot) telescopes using adaptive optics technology will be enough to collect the necessary data. A stable, tank-like platform could be used to keep them leveled as they are moved around.

If NASA managed to do the same thing for SOFIA, an infrared telescope built into the side of a Boeing airplane, then it can probably be done on land as well, experts conclude.