The Hubble Space Telescope. Photo Credit: NASA.gov
The galaxy is a wonderful and mysterious thing isn’t it? The only way we have been able to provide answers and/or theories is through pictures granted by the machines we have created. For example, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has played a huge role in providing pictures to scientists to conjure answers about our galaxies. However, our answers are only as good as the pictures they provide. If I were to design a telescope for the same use as NASA’s Hubble Telescope here are a few components I would want to do research in.
Research in electrical engineering components is a huge priority in this situation. Since there are a wide variety of electrical components in a space telescope (we have to receive the picture somehow right?) more research in this is needed. There’s dust and gas everywhere in space which could cover the lens and give a bad picture. A Near Infrared Camera & Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) allows the telescope to observe infrared light, with wavelengths between 0.8 and 2.4 micrometers, providing imaging and slitless spectrophotometric capabilities.
Another major component would be a Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). In space, color has A LOT of information (wavelengths help determine distance, amount of various elements present, etc.). The STIS separates the incoming colors of light to aid in the reading of these pictures. Improvements lead to clearer/informative/breakthrough pictures to help provide a better understanding of space.
Since I’m a mechanical engineering major I have to add something that is relative to my field of study of course! I would definitely look into the engine. Since we can only store a certain amount of fuel in the space telescope it keeps us from going on distant missions. I would look into a device that uses no fuel and provides movement by means of transferring momentum. Since space is considered a vacuum there would be no drag (unless you hit an asteroid then drag is the least of your worries) so you could travel far distances without using up any fuel. With this device we could travel even farther into space and take pictures deeper than we could imagine!
