SpaceX's Starship to Build Kilometer-Wide 'Monster Scope' Space Telescope

Oct 18, 2024, 03:47 PM

SpaceX's Starship is being proposed as a key tool in building a gargantuan, self-assembling space telescope that could revolutionize exoplanet observation. The concept, detailed by CJ Handmer in Palladium Magazine, suggests using Starship to deploy mirror segments into space, creating a kilometer-wide telescope known as the 'Monster Scope.' This telescope would capture detailed images of exoplanets, revealing features such as continents and weather patterns with 1 centimeter resolution. The initiative represents a significant shift in space exploration, moving away from spiraling costs and towards more efficient, large-scale infrastructure. Elon Musk highlighted Starship's potential to harness vastly more power from the sun, marking a step forward on the Kardashev scale.