Overview
- Researchers led by Heidi Newberg detail the design in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, proposing a 20‑meter by ~1‑meter primary mirror tuned to ~10 micrometers.
- The long, narrow mirror would rotate to scan target fields and resolve Earth‑size planets near Sun‑like stars within roughly 30 light‑years.
- The team projects up to about 30 promising Earth‑sized detections, estimating that roughly half of likely nearby Earth‑like planets could be found in approximately 3.5 to 4 years.
- The authors contend the architecture fits current rockets and uses available technology, offering an alternative to formation‑flying telescopes or external starshades.
- Drawbacks cited include longer exposure times and more complex data analysis, and the concept remains a published study that requires further validation and programmatic backing.