Technologies for Astrophysics Missions in 2020
Dennis Ebbets (Ball Aerospace)
Space missions being developed in this decade are pioneering many technological
innovations that will be mature and available to enable astrophysics missions next decade. I will
cite examples from missions that my company, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., has been involved
with. Examples include the deployment and control of segmented optical systems to overcome limitations
of launch vehicle fairings, large focal plane arrays for wide fields of view, cryogenic systems for
cooling detectors and optical systems, and optical communications to allow very high data transmission
rates. Other capabilities that have or will be demonstrated shortly include coordinated operation of
multiple spacecraft, sensors and algorithms for proximity operations, and technologies for robotic
servicing of observatories in space. Most of these would be applicable to a wide range of mission
sizes, from Explorers to Great Observatories.