NASA has selected industry proposals to develop technologies that will aid in building the Habitable Worlds Observatory, an advanced space telescope designed to search for signs of life on planets similar to Earth.
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What Is the Purpose of NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory?
The agency said Monday the planned observatory will image Earth-like planets orbiting Sun-like stars and analyze their atmospheric chemistry for potential biological activity. The space telescope will also support a wide range of research across the universe, while supporting future human exploration of Mars and the broader solar system.
Which Companies Were Selected?
As part of this effort, NASA awarded three-year, fixed-price contracts to the following companies with proposals intended to advance the observatory’s technology readiness:
- Astroscale U.S.
- BAE Systems Space and Mission Systems
- Busek
- L3Harris Technologies
- Lockheed Martin
- Northrop Grumman
- Zecoat
What Are the Habitable Worlds Observatory’s Key Design Features?
In terms of system design, the Habitable Worlds Observatory will be built for extreme optical stability, with system motion kept to less than the width of an atom during observations. The mission would also use a powerful coronagraph to block starlight and allow nearby planets to be observed, exceeding the capabilities of any space coronagraph built to date. In addition, the observatory would be designed for in-space servicing, extending its operational life and scientific return over time.
What Prior Proposals Did NASA Award for the Space Telescope?
In 2024, NASA selected BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to mature key technologies for future large space telescopes and support the Habitable Worlds Observatory concept. The selected projects, valued at a combined $17.5 million, cover the development of ultra-stable optical systems, integrated modeling tools for mission design assessment and system-level technologies for baseline telescope architecture.
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