New way of making a lunar telescope

A novel concept for making a lunar telescope either in the form of an optical interferometer or as a large aperture segmented array is described. Individual mirror elements can be made in situ by the replication process. An arrangement of magnets or electromagnets and high temperature superconductors are used to move and point the mirror elements. The telescope can be fabricated and operated by preprogramming supplemented by remote control from earth. The advantage of this approach is that it employs proven technology, requires very little transportation of material, little or no excavation, and is within the payload capability of current launch vehicles. A prototype is being made to demonstrate feasibility.