{"id":14566,"date":"2026-01-07T14:37:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T19:37:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/photonics\/?post_type=profile&p=14566"},"modified":"2026-03-04T09:48:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T14:48:51","slug":"edward-balaban","status":"publish","type":"profile","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/photonics\/profile\/edward-balaban\/","title":{"rendered":"Edward Balaban"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Edward Balaban is a research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center and is the NASA Principal Investigator for FLUTE project. His professional interests include robotics, autonomy, artificial intelligence, and development of innovative space missions.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to FLUTE, Edward is the lead for strategic mission planning on NASA\u2019s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission and is a member of VIPER\u2019s Science, System Engineering, and Mission Operations teams. He is also involved in planning lunar surface operations on the Artemis program and the CT-4 mission.<\/span><\/p>\n

At Ames, Edward leads the Health-Aware Decision Making Group within the Intelligent Systems Division and serves as the Principal Investigator for SHERPA (System Health Enabled Realtime Planning Advisor), an artificial intelligence system for space mission planning and execution support. He holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Computer Science from The George Washington University, a master\u2019s degree in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Presentation Title:<\/h3>\n

Fluidic Telescope (FLUTE): From Puddles to Giant Space Observatories<\/span><\/div>\n

Abstract:<\/span><\/h5>\n
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The future of space-based UV\/optical\/IR astronomy requires ever larger telescopes. The highest priority astrophysics targets \u2014 including Earth-like exoplanets, first generation stars, and early galaxies \u2014 are all very faint, which presents a challenge for current and next generation telescopes. Larger telescopes are the primary (if not only) way to address this issue. With mission costs depending strongly on aperture diameter, scaling current space telescope technologies to aperture sizes exceeding 10 meters does not appear economically viable.<\/span><\/p>\n

The FLUTE (Fluidic Telescope) project proposes\u00a0to overcome the current scaling limitations for space optics via a novel approach based on fluidic shaping in microgravity. This technique has already been successfully demonstrated in a laboratory neutral buoyancy environment, in parabolic microgravity flights, and aboard the International Space Station (ISS). In this talk, Dr. Edward Balaban will present the results to date and outline the work in progress, including FLUTE mission concepts under development.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Organization Page<\/a><\/h3>\n
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