by
Mark Ollig
The
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, better known as DARPA, from which
the Internet originated, is currently working on a leading-edge,
Earth-orbiting, space telescope.
DARPA
states the military would find it “optimal” to have instant access to real-time
images and video, from any location on earth, at any time.
They
said having this specific access is needed for national security reasons.
According
to DARPA, such immediate retrieval of real-time video or images from any
desired location on the planet does not currently exist.
They
also revealed most video and visual imagery used for military planning and
operations is being obtained by aircraft.
Of
course, spacecraft (namely) satellites orbiting the earth, are also used;
however, they are limited in the size of their optics, or large precision
reflective mirrors they are able to contain.
A
program to improve optical design, called Membrane Optic Imager Real-Time
Exploitation (MOIRE), was started in 2010.
And
yes, that’s not a typo, it’s “Exploitation.”
“MOIRE
aims to create technologies that would enable future high-resolution orbital
telescopes to provide real-time video and images of the Earth from
Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) – roughly 22,000 miles above the planet’s
surface,” as stated by DARPA.
MOIRE
will be using a new type of membrane optic (flat mirrored lens), made of a
special plastic, instead of currently- used glass.
The
thickness of the new optics, which is housed inside wafer-thin metal “petals,”
will be comparable to kitchen plastic-wrap.
This
design allows its compactable configuration to be easily stored when it is
launched into earth orbit.
In
contrast to the Hubble, and the soon-to-be-launched James Web Space Telescope
(JWST), DARPA’s new earth-orbiting telescope will be pointed at the earth,
instead of away from it.
Another
interesting feature about MOIRE will be the size of its mirrored lenses. They
will be exceptionally larger than those used on the Hubble or JWST.
If
we compare the aperture or size of the MOIRE telescopic mirrors, the Hubble is
7.9 feet, and the JWST is 22.3 feet.
So,
how large will the MOIRE lens mirrors be? Hold on, folks, because the planned
size is nearly 67 feet.
This
would make the MOIRE the world’s largest telescopic optics ever built.
The
incredible size of the optics used in this orbital telescope, will allow it to
view substantial portions of the earth at one time.
Once
in orbit, the MOIRE will unfold itself in order to become fully-deployed.
DARPA
provided a realistic artist’s interpretation of how the fully-deployed
satellite using the MOIRE optics would look when it’s in a geosynchronous earth
orbit. You can view it here: http://tinyurl.com/bits-moire2.
They
announced Phase 1 has been completed. This phase proved the MOIRE’s concept
feasibility, and over-all design.
DARPA
is now into Phase 2.
One
experiment involved with this phase, consists of the manufacturing of smaller
MOIRE 16.4-foot prototype primary and secondary optics. This will be used to
demonstrate their effectiveness in a ground-based experiment.
Testing
also includes having the smaller MOIRE telescopic optical lenses be launched,
deployed, and tested in Earth orbit via the FalconSAT-7 cube satellite program,
which is operated through the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA).
I
suppose this means we can rest a bit more easily, knowing the MOIRE will soon
be on the job, meeting our national security requirements on a world-wide
basis.
Perhaps,
the MOIRE could become the source of a new television reality show. It would be
titled: “MOIRE on Earth.” Each week, we would tune in to visit a different
place on the planet (in real-time) to see who is doing what to whom.
Yes,
indeed, nothing like having the all-seeing eye-in-the-sky, keeping watch over
us.
DARPA
created a short, animated concept video showing the MOIRE unfolding and
expanding itself while in Earth orbit: http://tinyurl.com/bits-moire3.
Additional
information about MOIRE can be found at the Tactical Technology Office on the
DARPA website: http://tinyurl.com/bits-moire.
(Photo from DARPA website)