I honestly don't know the answer to this, so perhaps somebody can provide some info: Does it cost more to produce the mirror or to produce the various CCD imagers and science instruments?
It would seem to me that the CCD's should be cheaper - we have a LOT more experience producing CCD's than we have producing 3 meter mirrors capable of being launched into orbit. Surely the huge amount of research being put into producing low noise CCD's for cameras and phones would have the effect of making it easier and cheaper to produce the science instruments for a space telescope?
It would seem to me that the CCD's should be cheaper - we have a LOT more experience producing CCD's than we have producing 3 meter mirrors capable of being launched into orbit. Surely the huge amount of research being put into producing low noise CCD's for cameras and phones would have the effect of making it easier and cheaper to produce the science instruments for a space telescope?