A satellite with deployable optics is provided. The satellite has a frame, an optical axis, and a deployable optical system. The optical system has a mechanical aperture perpendicular to the optical axis, where light collected travels substantially parallel to the optical axis. The optical system has a stored configuration in which it remains within the frame and a deployed configuration in which it extends outside the frame. In some configurations, the light-collecting area of the deployed configuration is larger than the possible light-collecting area of the stored configuration. In a partially deployed configuration, all of the primary mirror segments remain substantially within the frame, and the light-collecting area is smaller than that in the deployed configuration. A method of using the satellite includes setting the satellite to the deployed configuration, detecting whether there is a deployment malfunction, and, if so, setting the satellite to a partially deployed configuration.