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Billionaire's Bold Bet: Faster, Cheaper Astronomy
9 Jan
Summary
- Four major telescopes, including one in orbit, are being built.
- Schmidt Sciences aims for a four-year completion of all projects.
- The initiative utilizes existing technologies with novel applications.
Schmidt Sciences is accelerating astrophysics discovery with a bold plan to build four major new telescopes, including one for orbit, within an unprecedented four-year timeframe. This initiative, spearheaded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife Wendy, aims to rival the capabilities of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.
The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System leverages cutting-edge technologies, particularly in high-performance computing, to achieve its goals faster and more economically than traditional astronomical projects. The organization accepts calibrated risks, with ground-based systems agreements in place and component manufacturing already begun.
Key projects include the Lazuli space telescope, the Argus Array for continuous sky photography, the Deep Synoptic Array for radio frequencies, and the Large Fiber Array Spectroscopic Telescope (LFAST). These observatories are intended for a useful scientific life of three to five years, allowing for rapid updates with emerging technologies.
