3.5-meter Segmented-Mirror Robotic Space Telescope Mission White Paper I. Overall Architecture and Scientific Mission
Abstract
We present the preliminary science concept and mission architecture of a 3.5-meter segmented-mirror robotic space telescope currently under study. The observatory is conceived as a versatile platform supporting wide-field cosmology and galaxy evolution, direct imaging and characterization of nearby planetary systems, time-domain and multi-messenger observations, compact-object studies, and Solar-System small-body science. These programs share requirements for angular resolution, photometric stability, rapid target acquisition, spectroscopy, and long-term observing efficiency. The telescope employs an 18-segment 3.5-meter primary mirror for high-angular-resolution imaging from the near-ultraviolet through the optical and near-infrared. The current baseline covers 0.2--1.5 μm, with the wavelength for diffraction-limited performance to be set by the final wavefront-error budget. Wide-field imaging is intended for deep surveys, precision photometry, and repeated monitoring over approximately 10' × 10' to 30' × 30'. Spectroscopic modes with R ∼ 1000 and higher-resolution options approaching R ∼ 5000 are being considered for galaxy surveys, transient classification, compact-object spectroscopy, and targeted studies. A dedicated coronagraph is also being studied for direct observations of nearby exoplanetary systems, with a current raw-contrast goal of order 10−8 and further gains expected from calibration and post-processing. Candidate mission configurations include the Sun--Earth L2 region and alternative Earth orbits, with the final choice driven by science performance, thermal stability, communications, operations, and mission cost. This paper defines the current science requirements, baseline technical configuration, and engineering trade space for further development of the 3.5mST concept.
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BibTeX
@misc{kang202635meter,
title = {{3.5-meter Segmented-Mirror Robotic Space Telescope Mission White Paper I. Overall Architecture and Scientific Mission}},
author = {Yong-Woo Kang and Sang Hyun Lee and Juhan Kim and Jeong-Yeol Han and Sungwook E. Hong and Bongkon Moon and Donguk Song and Juhyung Kang and Myeong-Gu Park and Sang Chul Kim and Chung-Uk Lee and Sangmo Tony Sohn and Arman Shafieloo and David Parkinson and Hong Soo Park and Dohyeong Kim and Chan Park and Jungjoo Sohn and Young-Beom Jeon and Jong-Hak Woo and Hyung Mok Lee and Hong Bae Ann and Myungkook James Jee and Mansoo Choi and Changbom Park},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.02571},
eprint = {2609.02571},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.02571},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - 3.5-meter Segmented-Mirror Robotic Space Telescope Mission White Paper I. Overall Architecture and Scientific Mission
AU - Yong-Woo Kang
AU - Sang Hyun Lee
AU - Juhan Kim
AU - Jeong-Yeol Han
AU - Sungwook E. Hong
AU - Bongkon Moon
AU - Donguk Song
AU - Juhyung Kang
AU - Myeong-Gu Park
AU - Sang Chul Kim
AU - Chung-Uk Lee
AU - Sangmo Tony Sohn
AU - Arman Shafieloo
AU - David Parkinson
AU - Hong Soo Park
AU - Dohyeong Kim
AU - Chan Park
AU - Jungjoo Sohn
AU - Young-Beom Jeon
AU - Jong-Hak Woo
AU - Hyung Mok Lee
AU - Hong Bae Ann
AU - Myungkook James Jee
AU - Mansoo Choi
AU - Changbom Park
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/17
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.02571
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.02571
AB - We present the preliminary science concept and mission architecture of a 3.5-meter segmented-mirror robotic space telescope currently under study. The observatory is conceived as a versatile platform supporting wide-field cosmology and galaxy evolution, direct imaging and characterization of nearby planetary systems, time-domain and multi-messenger observations, compact-object studies, and Solar-System small-body science. These programs share requirements for angular resolution, photometric stability, rapid target acquisition, spectroscopy, and long-term observing efficiency. The telescope employs an 18-segment 3.5-meter primary mirror for high-angular-resolution imaging from the near-ultraviolet through the optical and near-infrared. The current baseline covers 0.2--1.5 μm, with the wavelength for diffraction-limited performance to be set by the final wavefront-error budget. Wide-field imaging is intended for deep surveys, precision photometry, and repeated monitoring over approximately 10' × 10' to 30' × 30'. Spectroscopic modes with R ∼ 1000 and higher-resolution options approaching R ∼ 5000 are being considered for galaxy surveys, transient classification, compact-object spectroscopy, and targeted studies. A dedicated coronagraph is also being studied for direct observations of nearby exoplanetary systems, with a current raw-contrast goal of order 10^−8 and further gains expected from calibration and post-processing. Candidate mission configurations include the Sun--Earth L2 region and alternative Earth orbits, with the final choice driven by science performance, thermal stability, communications, operations, and mission cost. This paper defines the current science requirements, baseline technical configuration, and engineering trade space for further development of the 3.5mST concept.
ER -