03-15-2016, 05:29 PM
It's not so much whether AI or robotics are developed in the next decade or so, it's the cost of putting something into space that's the big obstacle. Ground based telescopes will provide the majority of science discoveries for many decades to come, space telescopes will make unique discoveries that can't be done from the ground, but cannot yet replace the capabilities of ground-based observatories. Building a telescope on the moon that will rival the TMT, GMT or ELT in our lifetimes? No, it won't happen.
Remember that ground-based telescopes are an awful lot cheaper than an equivalent observatory in space, and even more importantly, the instrumentation is easy to upgrade to use new technologies. That is not the case with space-based observatories. This means observatories on Earth can be upgraded and continue to operate for decades and remain competitive. The JWST will make wonderful discoveries, but after a decade or so will be another piece of space debris.
Ted keeps going on about optical array telescopes in orbit but fails to mention they immediately lose half the capability of ground-based telescopes, the ability to do spectroscopy. He also ignores the fact that if such a telescope was launched, it would still need to have an array of detectors as wide as the TMT's primary in order to provide the same resolution. That technology is decades away.
Remember that ground-based telescopes are an awful lot cheaper than an equivalent observatory in space, and even more importantly, the instrumentation is easy to upgrade to use new technologies. That is not the case with space-based observatories. This means observatories on Earth can be upgraded and continue to operate for decades and remain competitive. The JWST will make wonderful discoveries, but after a decade or so will be another piece of space debris.
Ted keeps going on about optical array telescopes in orbit but fails to mention they immediately lose half the capability of ground-based telescopes, the ability to do spectroscopy. He also ignores the fact that if such a telescope was launched, it would still need to have an array of detectors as wide as the TMT's primary in order to provide the same resolution. That technology is decades away.