GatoNanashi

GatoNanashi t1_jc82vao wrote

There's no real way to do it. Nothing exists that can bring the segments down intact so the only option is to try and boost it into a parking orbit somewhere. At that point it's basically just more abandoned crap in space.

I get you, but it's just not practical in any way even taking money out of the equation.

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GatoNanashi t1_ix7x2vy wrote

The Kh-11 was designed before Hubble. The telescope likely took its basic design from the recon satellite, not the other way around.

That said, large Cassegrain reflectors aren't exactly rare so it may be as much convergent design as actually using the recon satellite as the basis for the telescope.

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