1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Compare and contrast the Hubble Space Telescope and the Next Generation Space Telescope. 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Hey guys, Van and I are with Dr. Eric Smith. He's an astronomer at NASA Goddard. 3 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,000 So, Dr. Smith, what is a Next Generation Space Telescope? 4 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:24,000 Well, the NGST, or Next Generation Space Telescope, is the logical successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, or HST. 5 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:29,000 NGST is designed to see the first stars and galaxies that light up in the universe. 6 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:33,000 To do this, we need to work in the infrared part of the spectrum. 7 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,000 So that's one very important difference. 8 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,000 Another important difference is just how the telescope looks. 9 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,000 HST looks like a very familiar telescope to most people. 10 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:44,000 It's a tube, it's got a mirror at one end of it. 11 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:51,000 NGST, because it is so large, four times the size of HST, is going to have to be cut up and folded in a rocket. 12 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,000 And then it will be launched into space, and it will sort of bloom like a flower. 13 00:00:55,000 --> 00:01:00,000 And then it will have a sunshade to block light from the sun and protect its optics. 14 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,000 That sunshade is about the size of a tennis court. 15 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:03,000 It's huge! 16 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:04,000 It is. 17 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:05,000 Yeah. 18 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:10,000 Now, one of the other important differences between HST and NGST is where it will be. 19 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:13,000 HST is about 200 miles above our heads, orbiting the Earth. 20 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:19,000 NGST will be about 1.5 million kilometers from the Earth, farther than the moon. 21 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,000 It's being put there so that it can be in a very cold environment, 22 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:27,000 which, again, is good for telescopes that have to work in the infrared. 23 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,000 It also means that no one will service the NGST. 24 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:36,000 How do astronomers like you use algebra when you're designing or dealing with the NGST? 25 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:40,000 Well, algebra is used at all stages in the design and construction of a telescope. 26 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:46,000 Astronomers used algebra at the very beginning when they decided how they wanted to optimize it. 27 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,000 I mentioned you wanted to optimize for the infrared. 28 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:53,000 Well, you can use algebra to tell exactly where you want to optimize this telescope to work. 29 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:57,000 And you do that by studying galaxies and knowing where they emit their radiation. 30 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:03,000 Now, you said that the NGST has a sunshield that's the size of a tennis court. 31 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:04,000 Right. 32 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:10,000 And the reason it has a sunshield is to protect the telescope optics from getting sunlight on them. 33 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:11,000 Wow. 34 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:14,000 Okay, now, so are you guys working here at NASA Goddard on the sunshield? 35 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,000 A little bit, but a lot of work on the materials are being done at NASA Langley. 36 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:18,000 Hey, that's where we're from. 37 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:23,000 Why don't we head down to Hampton, Virginia and meet John Connell and find out more about the sunshield. 38 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:30,000 Here at the NASA Langley Research Center, we're working on a number of technologies that are relevant to the next generation space telescope. 39 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,000 The sunshield is comprised primarily of polymeric films. 40 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:39,000 Polymer is a term that means many repeat units of the same structure. 41 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:44,000 Common examples of polymers that you would encounter in everyday life would include things such as saran wrap, 42 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:49,000 food packaging material, milk jugs, compact disks, things of this nature. 43 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:56,000 The materials we are developing are primarily for the outermost shield of the next generation space telescope. 44 00:02:56,000 --> 00:03:03,000 As you recall, this shield is designed to keep the optics as cold as possible, so the shield has to be very reflective. 45 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:10,000 The outermost layer in particular has to be very reflective and be resistant to the radiation environment. 46 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:16,000 As you can see, the material looks much like the mylar balloon that you might encounter at a birthday party or other type of event. 47 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:23,000 The chemistry of them is such that they are much different and they will be resistant to the radiation present in space. 48 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,000 Polymer chemists use algebra in their everyday working activities 49 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:31,000 and the calculation of the recipe is necessary to make these advanced polymers. 50 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,000 Well, that about wraps up this episode of NASA Connect. 51 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,000 It was a blast, wasn't it, Van? 52 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:37,000 Oh, yeah, it sure was. 53 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,000 Jennifer and I would like to thank everyone who helped contribute to this episode. 54 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:41,000 We sure would. 55 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:45,000 And, you know, Van and I would love to hear from you with your comments, your questions, your suggestions or ideas. 56 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:53,000 So just write us at NASA Connect, NASA Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 400, Hampton, Virginia, 23681. 57 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:59,000 Or, you know, you can find us on the web at connect at edu.larc.nasa.gov. 58 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:05,000 Hey, teachers, if you would like a videotaped copy of this NASA Connect show and the teacher's guide, 59 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:10,000 contact CORE, the NASA Central Operation of Resources for Educators, 60 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:15,000 or check out this website to locate your local NASA Educator Resource Center. 61 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:19,000 All this information and more is located on the NASA Connect website. 62 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,000 For the NASA Connect series, I'm Jennifer Pulley. 63 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:23,000 And I'm Van Hughes. 64 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:24,000 See you next time. 65 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:25,000 Bye. 66 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:26,000 Bye-bye.