Lost in Space: The Magic Mirror The idea of being lost in space has captivated the human imagination for centuries. The vastness of the cosmos and the unknown that lies within it have fuelled countless works of art, literature, and films. A concept that often arises within these narratives is the idea of a magic mirror – a portal or device that allows characters to navigate through space and time. The concept of a magic mirror in space has its roots in ancient myths and legends. One of the most famous examples is the story of Alice Through the Looking Glass, written by Lewis Carroll. In this tale, Alice finds herself stepping through a mirror and entering a world that is both familiar and strange.
Just like Penny Robinson's complete absence in War of the Robots (1966) (until the trailer), Will Robinson similarly does not appear in this episode except in the trailer for next week's adventure; however, unlike Penny in War of the Robots, Will's name is mentioned (twice) as if he's somewhere around.
He tells her he heard what she said about staying as she was forever, and entices her by promising that if she stays with him, she will never grow up or have to change. If the coronagraph technology performs as anticipated, it will see planets that are almost a billion times fainter than their host star and enable detailed studies of giant planets around other suns.
In this tale, Alice finds herself stepping through a mirror and entering a world that is both familiar and strange. Similarly, in contemporary science fiction, mirrors have become a common motif for space travel and exploration. The idea of a magic mirror in space can be seen in popular science fiction franchises such as Star Trek and Doctor Who.
Primary Mirror for NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Completed
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s primary mirror, which will collect and focus light from cosmic objects near and far, has been completed. Using this mirror, Roman will capture stunning space vistas with a field of view 100 times greater than Hubble images.
“Achieving this milestone is very exciting,” said Scott Smith, Roman telescope manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “Success relies on a team with each person doing their part, and it’s especially true in our current challenging environment. Everyone plays a role in collecting that first image and answering inspiring questions.”
Roman will peer through dust and across vast stretches of space and time to study the universe using infrared light, which human eyes can’t see. The amount of detail these observations will reveal is directly related to the size of the telescope’s mirror, since a larger surface gathers more light and measures finer features.
Roman’s primary mirror is 7.9 feet (2.4 meters) across. While it’s the same size as the Hubble Space Telescope’s main mirror, it is less than one-fourth the weight. Roman’s mirror weighs only 410 pounds (186 kilograms) thanks to major improvements in technology.
The Roman Space Telescope’s primary mirror reflects an American flag. Its surface is figured to a level hundreds of times finer than a typical household mirror.
Credit: L3Harris TechnologiesThe primary mirror, in concert with other optics, will send light to Roman’s two science instruments – the Wide Field Instrument and Coronagraph Instrument. The first is essentially a giant 300-megapixel camera that provides the same sharp resolution as Hubble across nearly 100 times the field of view. Using this instrument, scientists will be able to map the structure and distribution of invisible dark matter, study planetary systems around other stars, and explore how the universe evolved to its present state.
The coronagraph demonstrates technology that blocks out the glare of stars and allows astronomers to directly image planets in orbit around them. If the coronagraph technology performs as anticipated, it will see planets that are almost a billion times fainter than their host star and enable detailed studies of giant planets around other suns.
Roman will observe from a vantage point about 930,000 miles (1.5 million km) away from Earth in the direction opposite the Sun. Roman’s barrel-like shape will help block out unwanted light from the Sun, Earth, and Moon, and the spacecraft’s distant location will help keep the instruments cool, ensuring that it will be able to detect faint infrared signals.
Because it will experience a range of temperatures between manufacture and testing on Earth and operations in space, the primary mirror is made of a specialty ultralow-expansion glass. Most materials expand and contract when temperatures change, but if the primary mirror changed shape it would distort the images from the telescope. Roman’s mirror and its support structure are designed to reduce flexing, which will preserve the quality of its observations.
Crane operators lower the support equipment to move the Roman Space Telescope’s primary mirror. Using this mirror, Roman will provide a new view into the universe, helping scientists solve cosmic mysteries related to dark matter, dark energy, and planets around other stars.
Credit: L3Harris TechnologiesDevelopment of the mirror is much further along than it would typically be at this stage since the mission leverages a mirror that was transferred to NASA from the National Reconnaissance Office. The team modified the mirror’s shape and surface to meet Roman’s science objectives.
The newly resurfaced mirror sports a layer of silver less than 400 nanometers thick – about 200 times thinner than a human hair. The silver coating was specifically chosen for Roman because of how well it reflects near-infrared light. By contrast, Hubble’s mirror is coated with layers of aluminum and magnesium fluoride to optimize visible and ultraviolet light reflectivity. Likewise, the James Webb Space Telescope’s mirrors have a gold coating to suit its longer wavelength infrared observations.
Roman’s mirror is so finely polished that the average bump on its surface is only 1.2 nanometers tall – more than twice as smooth as the mission requires. If the mirror were scaled to be Earth’s size, these bumps would be just a quarter of an inch high.
“The mirror was precisely finished to the Roman Space Telescope’s optical prescription,” said Bonnie Patterson, program manager at L3Harris Technologies in Rochester, New York. “Since it’s so much smoother than required, it will provide even greater scientific benefit than originally planned.”
Next, the mirror will be mounted for additional testing at L3Harris. It has already been extensively tested at both cold and ambient temperatures. The new tests will be done with the mirror attached to its support structure.
“Roman’s primary mirror is complete, yet our work isn’t over,” said Smith. “We’re excited to see this mission through to launch and beyond, and eager to witness the wonders it will reveal.”
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is managed at Goddard, with participation by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech/IPAC in Pasadena, California, the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, and a science team comprising scientists from research institutions across the United States.
Media contact:
Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
301-286-1940
“The mirror was precisely finished to the Roman Space Telescope’s optical prescription,” said Bonnie Patterson, program manager at L3Harris Technologies in Rochester, New York. “Since it’s so much smoother than required, it will provide even greater scientific benefit than originally planned.”
In Star Trek, the use of wormholes or spatial anomalies often allows the characters to travel vast distances in an instant. These fictional devices act as magical mirrors, transporting the crew from one place in space to another. Doctor Who takes the concept of the magic mirror even further. The character known as the Doctor travels through time and space using a device called the TARDIS. The TARDIS appears as a simple blue police box on the outside, but once inside, it becomes a vast, wondrous space that is much larger than its external appearance. It is essentially a magic mirror, allowing the Doctor and their companions to travel to any point in time and space. Beyond science fiction, the idea of a magic mirror in space has also permeated the realm of scientific research. As the study of astronomy and astrophysics advances, scientists are constantly searching for new ways to explore the universe. Concepts such as wormholes, warp drives, and black holes have been proposed as possible methods of traversing vast distances in space. While the notion of a literal magic mirror in space may remain firmly in the realm of fiction, the exploration and understanding of the cosmos continue to expand. Space agencies such as NASA and private companies like SpaceX are pushing the boundaries of space travel, with ambitious plans to send humans to Mars and beyond. In conclusion, the concept of a magic mirror in space combines the human desire for exploration with the allure of the unknown. It has been a recurring theme in both ancient mythology and modern science fiction. While the reality of such a magical device may elude us, the quest to understand the mysteries of space continues to captivate our imagination..
Reviews for "Uncovering the Cosmic Riddles of the Enchanted Space Mirror"
1. John - 2 stars
I was really excited to read "Lost in Space: Magic Mirror" as I had heard so many good things about it. However, I was incredibly disappointed with the book. The plot felt disjointed and confusing, and I struggled to connect with the characters. The magic elements introduced in the story were not well-developed and seemed out of place. Overall, I found the book to be a letdown and would not recommend it.
2. Emily - 1 star
I couldn't even finish "Lost in Space: Magic Mirror" as it was just too boring and uninteresting. The writing style was dry and lacked any excitement or depth. The characters were one-dimensional and the dialogue felt forced. I had high expectations for this book, but unfortunately, it did not deliver. I would advise others to skip this one.
3. David - 2 stars
I found "Lost in Space: Magic Mirror" to be a poorly executed story. The pacing was slow, and the plot failed to engage me. The book had potential, but it fell flat due to weak character development and a lack of originality. I believe there are much better science fiction novels out there, and I would not recommend wasting your time with this one.
4. Sarah - 3 stars
While "Lost in Space: Magic Mirror" had an intriguing premise, the execution left much to be desired. The writing style was overly simplistic, which made it difficult for me to fully immerse myself in the story. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and felt cliché. Despite these flaws, the book did have a few entertaining moments, but overall, it failed to live up to my expectations.