ISS Space Telescope ISS Space Telescope, 1996. Depicted here is a space telescope capable of detecting planets orbiting around nearby stars. It would be serviced by International Space Station astronauts. Credit: NASA via Marcus Lindroos. 41,394 bytes. 634 x 348 pixels.

The Space Station's free-flying unmanned platforms were all deleted in 1987-90 to compensate for the budget cuts. However, some of them may yet be reintroduced in the 21st century. One possibility was a space telescope capable of detecting planets orbiting around nearby stars. It would be serviced by International Space Station astronauts. The early 1984 Space Station plan briefly featured a similar 'Astro' platform.

Article by Marcus Lindroos