NASA Selects PRIMA Far-Infrared Telescope as New Flagship Mission

• NASA has selected the PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA) as the inaugural mission in its new 'Probe Explorers' program.
• The observatory features a 1.8-meter telescope designed to conduct sensitive far-infrared (FIR) surveys, bridging the gap between near-infrared observatories like JWST and radio telescopes.
• The mission is currently in Phase B development, with a target launch date of 2033 and a cost cap of $1.2 billion for development phases.

Scientific Objectives

• Investigate planet formation processes beyond the Solar System.
• Analyze the growth and evolution of galaxies and their supermassive black holes.
• Track the accumulation of dust and heavy elements over cosmic time.
• Explore the origins of water on Earth.

Management and International Partners

• NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) manages the mission in partnership with the Goddard and Marshall Space Flight Centers.
• Global collaboration includes the UK Space Agency, France's CNES, Italy's ASI, Germany's DLR, the Canadian Space Agency, South Korea's KASI and KASA, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).