XPost: sci.space.policy   
   From: henry@spsystems.net   
      
   In article <42739759.419739273@newsgroups.bellsouth.net>,   
   Rand Simberg  wrote:   
   >>What are the limits? Could a 100m diameter optical telescope be built?   
   >   
   >Possibly, but there'd be little point, since you can get equivalent   
   >resolution with multiple-mirror systems.   
      
   Actually, there are groups working on concepts for a 100m ground-based   
   telescope, notably the European OWL project.  The main mirror *is*   
   segmented, but apparently there are practical advantages in having a   
   single filled aperture rather than a wide scattering of smaller mirrors.   
      
   There's no reason why you couldn't build an OWL in space, although it   
   would be an expensive project if it used current infrastructure.   
   --   
   "Think outside the box -- the box isn't our friend."    |   Henry Spencer   
                                   -- George Herbert       | henry@spsystems.net   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)