NASA announced on Monday the selection of industry proposals aimed at advancing technologies for the Habitable Worlds Observatory concept. This proposed mission is intended to directly image Earth-like planets orbiting Sun-like stars and analyze their atmospheric composition for biosignatures. The observatory is also designed to facilitate broader astronomical studies and support future human space exploration efforts.
According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, the Habitable Worlds Observatory represents a significant scientific undertaking for the agency, focusing on potential breakthroughs related to life beyond Earth.
Mission Requirements
Achieving the scientific objectives of the Habitable Worlds Observatory requires specific technological capabilities:
- A stable optical system capable of maintaining alignment within the width of an atom during observations.
- A coronagraph with a performance level thousands of times greater than existing space coronagraphs, designed to block starlight and enable observation of orbiting planets.
- The observatory is planned for in-space servicing to extend its operational lifetime and enhance its scientific capabilities over time.
Selected Companies
NASA has awarded three-year, fixed-price contracts to the following companies to develop these technologies:
- Astroscale U.S. Inc., Denver
- BAE Systems Space and Mission Systems, Inc., Boulder, Colorado
- Busek Co. Inc, Natick, Massachusetts
- L3 Harris Technologies Inc., Rochester, New York
- Lockheed Martin Inc., Palo Alto, California
- Northrop Grumman Inc., Redondo Beach, California
- Zecoat Co. Inc., Granite City, Illinois
Shawn Domagal-Goldman, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters, stated that these awards are part of an incubator program combining government and commercial innovation for future missions. The selected proposals will contribute to NASA's planning for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, building upon experience gained from the Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope, and the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. This initiative continues previous industry collaborations that began in 2017.