Bengalurean to head NASA’s $20 million space telescope mission
Dr. Ramya Anche, a Bengaluru-born astronomer at the University of Arizona, has been named the Principal Investigator for NASA's $20 million PUFFINS space telescope mission. The mission, scheduled for a 2030 launch, aims to study interstellar dust grains to better understand star and planet formation.
Why it matters
This mission represents a significant advancement in ultraviolet space observation and highlights the role of international talent in major NASA scientific endeavors.
Bengalurean to head NASA’s $20 million space telescope mission left Ramya Anche TH th https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/5xgjrp/article71588845.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/WhatsApp%20Image%202026-10-15%20at%2017.50.43.JPEG TH BENGALURU KARNATAKA 15/10/2026 : Dr. Ramya Anche, an assistant research professor at Steward Observatory, University of Arizona has been selected as the Principal Investigator of the PUFFINS mission. PUFFINS mission will study the smallest grains of dust between the stars: particles roughly the size of a common cold virus Bengaluru A Bengaluru-born astronomer will be heading the $20 million NASA space telescope mission PUFFINS (Polarimetry in the Ultraviolet to Find Features in INterStellar dust). Dr. Ramya Anche, an assistant research professor at Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, has been selected as the Principal Investigator of the PUFFINS mission. PUFFINS is a SmallSat selected under NASA’s highly competitive Astrophysics Pioneers programme.
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