It’s Not Sci-Fi—NASA Is Funding These Mind-Blowing Projects

Instead, with his “fluidic telescope” concept, one need only launch a frame structure—such as an umbrella-shaped satellite dish—and a tank of mirror liquid, like gallium alloys and ionic liquids. After launch, the liquid would be injected into the frame. In space, droplets stick together because of surface tension, and the pesky force of Earth’s gravity doesn’t get in the way and distort their shape. This will result in an incredibly smooth mirror without the need for mechanical processes like grinding and polishing, which are used for traditional glass mirrors. It would then be attached to the telescope’s other components through an automated process. 

Using tests on a plane and on

→ Continue reading at Wired - Science

More from author

Related posts

Advertisment

Latest posts

The Tantalizing Mystery of the Solar System’s Hidden Oceans

The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine.For most of humankind’s existence, Earth was the only known ocean-draped world, seemingly unlike any...

The Role of Scholarships and Grants in Financing Education

Applying for scholarships and grants helps students pay for college. In some situations, these awards allow people to obtain a degree they wouldn't be...

EV, hybrid and gas-powered: Some interesting cars coming in 2024 | CNN Business

CNN  —  Next year will see the introduction of some new, genuinely affordable electric vehicles as well as...