UK in pole position to lead key instrument in NASA's hunt for Earth-like worlds
UK astronomers are positioning themselves to lead the development of a core instrument for NASA's upcoming Habitable Worlds Observatory. The mission, scheduled for the 2040s, aims to search for Earth-like planets and signs of life beyond our solar system.
Why it matters
International collaboration on flagship space telescopes is essential for advancing human understanding of the universe and potential extraterrestrial life.
edited by Swati Mestri , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source A conceptual design of the Habitable Worlds Observatory. Credit: NASA UK astronomers are a step closer to playing a leading role in NASA's search for alien life in the coming decades as they continue developing one of the core instruments of the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). The exciting mission—the U.S. space agency's next flagship space telescope after the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope—is expected to launch in the 2040s.
The UK-led plans follow a series of instrument studies, which have been shared with NASA and are helping shape the mission as it moves into its next phase of development.
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