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DARPA's new telescope could see the aliens on Mars
NetworkWorld ^ | 4/13/11 | Michael Cooney

Posted on 04/14/2011 10:56:17 AM PDT by LibWhacker

DARPA-developed Space Surveillance Telescope is supposed to see objects in deep space like no ground-based system before it

You can bet that if there are little red aliens running around on Mars or spaceships patrolling other planet in our solar system for that matter, a recently powered-up telescope built by the researchers at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency might just be able to see them.

The Air Force, which operates the DARPA-developed Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) says the telescope's design, featuring unique image-capturing technology known as a curved charge coupled device (CCD) system, as well as very wide field-of-view, large-aperture optics, doesn't require the long optics train of a more traditional telescopes. The design makes the SST less cumbersome on its moveable mount, enabling it to survey the sky rapidly, the Air Force says. The telescope's mount uses advanced servo-control technology, making the SST one of the most agile telescopes of its size ever built.

More on cool telescopes: Amazing telescopes produce hot space images

"The SST will give us in a matter of nights the space surveillance data that current telescopes take weeks or months to provide," said Air Force Lt. Col. Travis Blake, DARPA's Space Surveillance Telescope program manager in a statement.

From DARPA: "Beyond providing faster data collection, the SST is very sensitive to light, which allows it to see faint objects in deep space that currently are impossible to observe. The detection and tracking of faint objects requires a large aperture and fast optics. The SST uses a 3.5 meter primary mirror, which is large enough to achieve the desired sensitivity. The system is an f/1.0 optical design, with a large-area mosaic CCD camera constructed from the curved imagers and a high-speed shutter allowing for fast scanning at the high sensitivity."

The SST has a number of missions, watching for debris in low earth orbit to help existing satellites avoid collisions chief among them, it also tracks objects in deep space and offers astronomers a wide-angle lens to take astronomical surveys of stars and comets, DARPA says.

DARPA says the SST developed its first images earlier this year and is still undergoing tests.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: darpa; space; surveillance; telescope
You can bet...

One of these things would make a GREAT spy satellite.

1 posted on 04/14/2011 10:56:23 AM PDT by LibWhacker
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To: LibWhacker

Quick -— tell that democrat congressperson (what was her name?) so she can look for where Neil Armstrong planted our flag.


2 posted on 04/14/2011 10:58:13 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This post is not a statement of fact. It is merely a personal opinion -- or humor -- or both)
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To: LibWhacker

If beings on Mars stay on Mars then why call them aliens?
They are only aliens if they come here.

I’m sure if they make the trip to Earth some Dem will put a label on them simlilar to “Undocumented Interstellar Travelers”

And they won’t be allowed to work here because........

A “Green Card” would be racist.


3 posted on 04/14/2011 11:09:42 AM PDT by JBR34
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To: BenLurkin

GMTA


4 posted on 04/14/2011 11:13:43 AM PDT by NonValueAdded (President Obama's approval ratings are so low now, Kenyans are accusing him of being born in the US)
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To: BenLurkin

Shirley Jackson Lee??


5 posted on 04/14/2011 11:18:04 AM PDT by theDentist (fybo; qwerty ergo typo : i type, therefore i misspelll)
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To: LibWhacker

DARPA does not develop things for civilians to look at Mars. This will be pointed earthward.


6 posted on 04/14/2011 11:28:16 AM PDT by Paine in the Neck (Napolean fries the idea powder.)
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To: theDentist

Sheila Jackson Lee.


7 posted on 04/14/2011 11:35:50 AM PDT by SpinnerWebb (In 2012 you will awaken from your HOPEnosis and have no recollection of this... "Constitution")
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To: LibWhacker

The first person who posts a pic of pelosi or Helen Thomas wins.


8 posted on 04/14/2011 11:41:58 AM PDT by WinOne4TheGipper (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtC_wld3YJE&feature=youtube_gdata_player)
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To: theDentist

Sheila Jackson Lee


9 posted on 04/14/2011 11:43:06 AM PDT by WinOne4TheGipper (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtC_wld3YJE&feature=youtube_gdata_player)
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To: Paine in the Neck

Doncha ya spose a 3.5 Meter mirror is firmly planted on the ground?

“DARPA’s newly developed Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) aims to change that, ushering in a new era of ground-based space surveillance technology “


10 posted on 04/14/2011 11:48:17 AM PDT by G Larry
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To: theDentist

Sheila Jackson Lee


11 posted on 04/14/2011 11:48:29 AM PDT by WinOne4TheGipper (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtC_wld3YJE&feature=youtube_gdata_player)
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To: G Larry
Doncha ya spose a 3.5 Meter mirror is firmly planted on the ground?

I reckon so (and confess a reading comprehension glitch). Nevertheless, DARPA is not engaged in development of civilian projects and is not interested in 'looking at Mars' (yet). We must presume a near-earth military application.

12 posted on 04/14/2011 11:56:10 AM PDT by Paine in the Neck (Napolean fries the idea powder.)
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To: BenLurkin


That would be Sheila Jackson Lee.
13 posted on 04/14/2011 12:13:33 PM PDT by Emperor Palpatine (Tosca, mi fai dimenticare Iddio!!!)
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To: LibWhacker
The first images from Mars are coming in now:


14 posted on 04/14/2011 12:20:08 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed, and I do not give a damn.)
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To: LibWhacker

15 posted on 04/14/2011 12:23:34 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: LibWhacker
Could? are you saying they are there?
16 posted on 04/14/2011 2:20:32 PM PDT by ßuddaßudd (7 days - 7 ways a Guero y Guay Lao >>> with a floating, shifting, ever changing persona.....)
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To: BenLurkin
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK AN EARTH PEEPNG TOM


17 posted on 09/28/2015 12:03:30 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
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