>>12698521Let’s look at the JWST for example, you could easily split the heat shield, the propulsive module, the power and computing, and then the telescope into 4 separate launches
100 million for each launch, small money
The main dish has to fucking fold because they don’t have the balls to go to some launch company and tell them “make a fairing that’ll fit these dimensions”
Failing that, they could make their own fairings out of milled aluminum for minimal cost.
Now, your telescope is modular and built to be able to be expanded and you could launch other telescopes, or new shields, or new computer/power modules/propulsion to keep it working
But what do I know, I’m not a professional scientist who gets paid regardless
