How big can be a space telescope ?

Thanks Dave!

That information is great.
So, at least in theory, and assuming the problem of very precise
alignation of the telescopes it is solved, it is possible to have
instruments of a very large size, perhaps of the size of small words!

Perhaps one day, from out space, they could take pictures from earth-
like extrasolar planets !!!

What a nice idea for the article I have to write!

Omar

> Greetings,
>
> If you're talking about a Radio Telescope, they can be really
large.
> A field of about 50 dish antenna, laid out to form a "T", or a "X"
or
> a "Y", May have an effective aperture of several miles. On rare
> occasions these Radio Telescope Arrays, are combined with others
> around the world, to make the whole Earth into a telescope, with
the
> size of our planet. A few years back I read of plans to add
orbiting
> Radio Telescopes, but I haven't heard any more on the topic.
>
> Arrays of telescopes and arrays or arrays of telescopes depend on
> interferometer to work, this in turn requires that we accurately
know
> the position of each telescope to about 1/10th wavelength. This is
> do-able with Radio frequencies. But not for Optical telescopes,
> beyond a few 10's of meters. At least, not at this time.
>
> Regards,
>
> Dave Handwerk
>
> --- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, Douglas May wrote:
> >
> > > On Jan 23, 2007, at 3:59 PM, Omar E. Vega wrote:
> > >
> > > t theory a telescope could be hundred or thousand of meter in
size,
> > > and able to see solid planets in far away stars.
> > >
> > > The question is, which real limitations in sizes, from optics,
> > > practical or structural, exist for a telescope in space?
> > >
> > I think the cost of maintenance would be a barrier for a very
large
> > scope. A large one is more likely to be struck by small
impactors,
> > and these would mess up the optics and kind of defeat the
purpose for
> > having such a large scope. You would need frequent repair trips
and