Kenneth G Carpenter
Dr. Kenneth Carpenter is the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Operations Project Scientist and the Ground Systems Project Scientist for the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST). He is also part of the Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD.
In addition to his scientific work, Carpenter enjoys photography and has a passion for space exploration, the Maryland Renaissance Festival, and all things related to *Star Trek* and Disney. He credits both *Star Trek* and his visit to the 1964–’65 New York World’s Fair as key inspirations for his career at NASA. Carpenter has also been a speaker at various *Star Trek* and media conventions, including DragonCon in Atlanta, StarFest in Denver, and Shore Leave.
Presentations at Shore Leave 45 (2025):
The Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI): Ultra-High-Resolution UV/Optical Astronomy from the Lunar Surface
The Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI) is a lunar surface-based UV/optical interferometer (dispersed aperture telescope) concept that leverages our return to the Moon and the prior free-flying Stellar Imager (SI) study to enable ultra-high angular resolution of distant stars, supernovae, symbiotic stars, and Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). The staged development of this observatory would lead to a reconfigurable 30-element, 1-km diameter interferometer, deployed, operated and serviced in collaboration with the Artemis campaign. Its primary goals are in stellar astrophysics and heliophysics: improving our understanding of magnetic processes and stellar interior structure and the development of truly predictive dynamo models for the Sun and stars and the characterization of Exoplanet host stars. AeSI will also study supernovae, symbiotic and variable stars, and AGN. This talk will present the results of a NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC)-funded Phase I study led by NIAC Fellow Ken Carpenter. This study established the feasibility of the concept, identified technical tall poles and potential benefits of the lunar site, and enabled evaluation of trades relative to the free-flying version. A NIAC Phase II study proposed in February would address outstanding technical issues and refine design concepts.
For more info: https://hires.gsfc.nasa.gov/