Space Deployable Spectrometer with Large Collection Area

This invention is a highly scalable optical design that will allow the construction of deployable space telescopes with collecting areas that are an order of magnitude greater than the current state-of-the-art and with greatly reduced production and launch costs. The design includes a novel spectrometer capable of surveying transiting earth-sized exoplanets for atmospheric bio-signatures. The technology can fundamentally impact space-borne remote sensing, earth observations, and astronomy.

Background:
Current state of the art space telescopes are designed with either refractive and/or reflective optical mirrors and lenses. Space telescopes have high manufacturing and launch costs while weighing an average of several tons. There is a need for much lighter weight and less expensive deployable space telescopes that perform equally to the conventional refractive and reflective systems.

Applications:

• Astrophysical studies
• Earth observing systems
• Telescope array for single or multiple targets

Advantages:

• Highly scalable
• Lower manufacturing costs
• Lower launch costs
• Tolerance to misalignments