Robots in orbit could assemble replacements for Hubble

Space telescopes like Hubble has given astronomers a unique glimpse at the universe unhindered by the thick atmosphere of our planet that can blur our view. But hauling a huge telescope into space can be difficult, which makes it hard to build the bigger space telescopes needed to peer into the furthest reaches of space. This problem could be solved by a new telescope-constructing robot capable of assembling a space telescope while orbiting around Earth. Each folded'mode' would be stored in a cargo unit until it was ready to be attached to the central'hub' by the robot Researchers at the California Institute of Technology and Nasa's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) came up with the new concept, which uses a modular structure so each part of the telescope could be carried separately. When the Hubble Space Telescope first went into space in 1990, it promised to provide spectacular views and an unprecedented insight into the cosmos.