Lunar vs. orbital astronomy

There are satellites flying in formation right now. The Cluster
satellites (c.f., http://sci.esa.int/cluster/ ) have operated in orbit
around the Earth measuring the magnetosphere.

So the question is not whether or not satellites can fly in formation ---
they assuredly can, and this has been demonstrated. The question we were
musing was whether such a cluster could provide a platform stable enough
to support interferometric astronomical observations, vis a vis the
alternative of laying our a pattern of observatories on the surface of the
Moon.

Ron
******

Brett Sargeant
12/19/01 06:48 AM
Please respond to spacesettlers

To: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
cc:
Subject: Re: [spacesettlers] Lunar vs. orbital astronomy

> rmenich@... wrote:
>
>>
>> Regarding constellations of satellites... I'm interested in your
>> comment,
>> "achieving stability in orbit (which NASA seems to think they should be
>> able to do)". Is there some NASA study or paper that indicates that
>> constellations
>> of satellites for interferometry is very possible (p.s., URL would be
>> appreciated;
>
I recall seeing a Tv show and a magazine article on work on the AI's
necessary for constellation flight, It involved floating a number of
Balloons around a big room in formation under control of the AI's which
learnt as they went. Unfortunately I cannot remember seeing this. It is
quite likely in the New Scientist archives somewhere though.
Brett