Nautilus: The advent of large lens-based space telescopes

One of the most profound and philosophically captivating foci of modern astronomy is studies of Earth-like exoplanets in search of life in the Universe. The paradigm-shifting investigation described here calls for a new type of space telescope that redefines the available light-collecting area in space, far beyond what is currently possible with the 6.5 m diameter James Webb Space Telescope. The Nautilus Space Observatory, which is enabled by multiple-order diffractive optics, is ushering in the advent of large space telescope lenses designed to search for biosignatures on a thousand exo-earths.