Former Google CEO Plans to Singlehandedly Fund a Hubble Telescope Replacement
Good News Network • • science
Key Points:
- Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, and his wife Wendy have pledged to fund four telescopic observatories, including Lazuli, a next-generation space telescope designed to surpass the Hubble Space Telescope's capabilities.
- Lazuli will feature a larger 3.1-meter primary mirror compared to Hubble's 2.4 meters and will orbit Earth at a greater distance to minimize interference, with a planned launch as early as late 2028 and scientific operations starting in 2029.
- The Schmidt Observatory System aims to explore the universe through multiple observatories, leveraging decades of technological advancements and pursuing a more agile, cost-controlled approach independent of NASA’s traditional timelines and budget constraints.
- This philanthropic initiative reflects a return to historic traditions where wealthy individuals
