Could the same effect (as a segmented mirror) be achieved by taking multiple pictures (from the same mirror) and processing them together? E.g. does synthetic aperture radar actually produce higher resolution than achievable from a single "snapshot"? If so, then this might work (at least for slow-moving targets :-)...
dat@ebt.com (David Taffs)
Yes, but the positional accuracy required (on the order of the wavelength) would be prohibitive to achieve. (Such things may be possible for the NRO's DSP (more acronym overloading: DSP stands for Defense Support Program) satellites to implement. I haven't heard any speculations that this is actually being done.) Synthetic Aperture Radar is feasible becuase the wavelengths are so much larger. The new Keck Telescope will eventually use a second telescope, now under construction, located some distance away, for very long baseline interferometry...I have no idea if it can be made to work as an actual synthetic aperture. Jay Freeman man know. --Tim May -- .......................................................................... Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@netcom.com | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero 408-688-5409 | knowledge, reputations, information markets, W.A.S.T.E.: Aptos, CA | black markets, collapse of governments. Higher Power: 2^859433 | Public Key: PGP and MailSafe available. "National borders are just speed bumps on the information superhighway."