We can't even assemble JWST robotically on earth in a lab at 1G. On orbit manufacturing is not mature enough yet to assemble something like JWST. There are too many problems that need to be solved.
> We can't even assemble JWST robotically on earth in a lab at 1G.
> On orbit manufacturing is not mature enough yet to assemble something like JWST.
You may have missed the future-tense-ness of the post.
I drew part of my salary from NASA helping define the roadmaps for in space assembly of telescopes, costs, benefits, and required technology. The pick and place concept is well described in NASA report outs.
Thats the only reason I mention it. It's an interesting concept with well established merits.
https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/science-enabling-t...
I'm standing on the upper right of that photo. It was a fun study and I'm lucky to have been in the room at the time
Would we expect this to be something space x develops?