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Very large Arecibo-type telescopesThe Arecibo-type radio telescope, based on a fixed spherical reflector, is a very effective design for a large radio telescope on the Moon. In such telescopes, major structural members are provided by the ground on which they are built, and thus are provided at no cost in materials or transportation. The strong compression members, the tall towers which support the suspended platform, are an expensive part of the Arecibo telescope. The need for such towers can be eliminated if a suitable valley or crater can be found wherein the rim of the depression can be used as the support point for the cables which support the suspended platform. With an Arecibo-type radio telescope on the Moon, there are no changing gravity loads because of the design and no changing wind loads because of the location; therefore, the only source of time variation in the telescope geometry is thermal changes. Calculations show that with conventional materials, such as steel, it should be possible to construct an Arecibo-type telescope with a reflector diameter of some 30 km on the Moon, and with a reflector diameter of some 60 to 90 km if materials of high specific strength are used.
Document ID
19890006450
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Drake, Frank D.
(California Univ. Santa Cruz, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 5, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Future Astronomical Observatories on the Moon
Subject Category
Astronomy
Accession Number
89N15821
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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