Airborne Large Aperture Telescope

- Unaffected by most cloud cover - one airborne telescope can have the same availability as multiple ground stations.

- Facilitates serious astronomical observation from nearly anywhere in the world regardless of weather conditions.

- Perpetual good "seeing" at altitude = high resolution

- Reduced effects from atmospheric scattering, absorption and emission, particulates, moonlight, and man made light sources.

- Potential for night and day observation = better utilization

- Provides many of the observational advantages of a space telescope, yet is less expensive and is accessible for servicing and upgrading.

- Facilitates airborne optical communication research and development.

- Large aperture facilitates use as an airborne relay for deep space optical communication (ARDOC).

- Fewer real and perceived environmental issues and related legal delays than ground based stations.