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NASA PRIMA telescope mission development

Overview

NASA has officially validated the transition to Phase B development for the PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA). As the inaugural mission in the agency’s new Probe Explorers class—a middle tier positioned between modest missions and large-scale flagship observatories—the project is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory with a projected cost cap of $1.2 billion, excluding launch and non-design costs.

The 1.8-meter observatory is designed to bridge the observational gap between radio telescopes and existing infrared facilities, such as the James Webb Space Telescope. By utilizing far-infrared light, the mission aims to investigate the formation of exoplanets, the growth of galaxies and central black holes, the accumulation of cosmic dust and heavy elements, and the origins of water on Earth.

Targeting a 2033 launch, the mission will likely be positioned at the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point. To achieve the necessary sensitivity for deep surveys, engineers plan to utilize a modified cryocooler system, originally designed for the James Webb Space Telescope, to cool the optics and sensors to approximately 4.5 Kelvin. This supports the mission’s goal of observing cold, dusty regions of the cosmos, such as newborn stars, which are often obscured from other instruments.

Phase B focuses on refining the telescope's detailed design and necessary technologies. International collaboration remains part of the development process, with researchers from Germany contributing to system components intended to stabilize and align the instruments.

Entities

NASA · Prima · James Webb Space Telescope · Jet Propulsion Laboratory · Nicky Fox

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    NASA advances PRIMA space telescope project for 2033 launch

    NASA has advanced the design of the $1.2 billion PRIMA space telescope, which aims to fill the far-infrared observational gap left by the James Webb Space Telescope by the early 2030s.

  2. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    NASA advances PRIMA far-infrared space telescope to next development phase

    NASA has moved the PRIMA far-infrared space telescope into Phase B of development. The mission, planned for a 2033 launch, aims to study cosmic history and the formation of celestial bodies.

  3. [TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
    NASA advances PRIMA far-infrared space telescope mission

    NASA has moved its PRIMA far-infrared space telescope mission into Phase B development, aiming for a 2033 launch to study galaxy evolution and planet formation.

  4. [TECHNOLOGY] 8 sources
    NASA advances PRIMA far-infrared telescope to Phase B development

    NASA is advancing the PRIMA far-infrared space telescope into Phase B development. Scheduled for a 2033 launch, the mission will study galaxy growth and planetary origins.

  5. [TECHNOLOGY] 7 sources
    NASA advances PRIMA far-infrared telescope mission

    NASA is advancing the PRIMA far-infrared telescope mission, set for a 2033 launch, to study the formation of planets, galaxies, and black holes across cosmic history.

Sources

astronews.com · bits-chips.nl · bug.hr · conowego.pl · donanimhaber.com · executivegov.com · it-boltwise.de · nasa.gov · nation.cymru · news.satnews.com · news.yam.md · nouvelles-du-monde.com · science.nasa.gov · spaceflightnow.com · stiintasitehnica.com · techno-science.net · tecnoandroid.it · teknoblog.com · time.news · world-today-news.com · yenicaggazetesi.com.tr

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history