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New Method Discovered For Making Telescopes On the Moon

Posted by Soulskill on from the i'm-sure-macgyver-has-some-ideas-too dept.

NASA scientists have discovered a way to craft very large mirrors using carbon nanotubes, some epoxy, a little bit of aluminum, and large quantities of lunar dust. They say the technique will allow the construction of massive telescopes on the moon without the expense and risk of transporting the mirrors from Earth. Douglas Rabin of the Goddard Space Flight Center is quoted saying, "Our method could be scaled-up on the moon, using the ubiquitous lunar dust, to create giant telescope mirrors up to 50 meters in diameter." While this breakthrough was relatively cheap, NASA is currently offering up to $10 million for other good lunar research projects.

10 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. Forget your stupid observatory! by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Forget your stupid observatory! I'm gonna make my own! With hookers! And blackjack! In fact, forget the observatory!

  2. Oh great More Outsourcing by monopole · · Score: 4, Funny

    Taking away good American mirror grinding jobs and sending them to the moon (probably to be made by illegal aliens) while depriving FedEx of the shipping revenue!
    Somebody contact Lou Dobbs!

    1. Re:Oh great More Outsourcing by J'ai+Friedpork · · Score: 5, Funny

      If Americans were willing to grind mirrors for fifty cents an hour in hard vacuum, we wouldn't need to use lunar immigrants for the jobs.

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  3. I, for one... by J'ai+Friedpork · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...cannot wait to see some mad scientist use this technology to turn the moon into one giant magnifying mirror and having a nice game of "ants on the sidewalk." (And of course, the obligatory welcome to our new super-reflective overlords. Sigh.)

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    Took this comment seriously, did you?
  4. What's the old method ... by jamesl · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... for making telescopes on the moon?

  5. Re:Slow process by J'ai+Friedpork · · Score: 5, Funny

    It takes forever to count out 6857 grains of salt as well. I suspect they'll just write down "one cup of nanotubes" and be done with it.

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  6. Re:Practical applications by Brett+Buck · · Score: 4, Funny

    We're whalers on the moon
    We carry a harpoon
    But their ain't no whales so we tell tall tales
    And sing this whaling tune

            Brett

  7. Overheard on comm channel: by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 5, Funny
    "They headed towards the dish on that large space station...."

    "That's no space station. It's a moon!"

  8. Re:Aluminum? by Original+Replica · · Score: 4, Funny

    Aluminum is a form of Aluminium found only in North America.

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    We are all just people.
  9. Ikea by camperdave · · Score: 4, Funny

    So, Ikea has an astronomy equipment division?

    Yes, their biggest seller is called Skope, but you can also get the Refraktor or Kassegrain.

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    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!