Dr. Jonathan W. Arenberg
Northrop Grumman Space
Astronomy is a science driven by observation. Since 1609, those observations have required ever more sensitive and exquisite hardware. In the 20th century, advances in technology and creativity allowed for the creation of space observatories. These space observatories have opened entirely new areas of science and play a vital role in the advancement of the field. In the early 21 st century, the space industry is poised on the cusp of a revolution, the 3 rd space age. In this talk we will discuss the development of predominantly large space observatories, such as Chandra, James Webb and the Habitable Worlds Observer. We will examine what makes development of these space observatories challenging and how the coming revolution in technology may ameliorate some of these challenges. Also discussed will be the roles of all manner of technical professionals, engineers and scientists in the development process.