Multi-Kilometer Space Telescopes and Megameter Arrays | NextBigFuture.com

Rigidized polymers appear to be a feasible technology to create space telescopes larger than kilometer sizes. It should be possible to make 50 meter space telescope elements in 1000 kilometer baseline space telescope arrays. The Event Horizon Telescope at 1.3 millimeter wavelength achieved 25 microarcsecond resolution on M87. Many 50-meter space telescopes in a 1000 kilometer baseline array would 100 times better with 245 nanoarcsecond resolution using 1 micron wavelengths. Making arrays of 40 or 50-meter space telescopes over a 1000 kilometer baseline would be better for imaging exo-earths (earth planets in other solar systems) and blackholes. They would also