Eric and Wendy Schmidt's philanthropic initiative will fund four new telescopic observatories. One of these, named Lazuli, is a space-based telescope designed to exceed the capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope. Lazuli is intended to launch as early as late 2028 and begin scientific operations in 2029. Its development comes as the three-decade-old Hubble observatory, while still operational, is anticipated to be retired in the coming years due to shifts in funding priorities and a focus on physical exploration by space agencies.
The Schmidt Observatory System represents an investment that Ars Technica speculates could reach half a billion dollars. The four telescopes are based on existing designs previously proposed to NASA by scientists.
Lazuli is described as a modern iteration of Hubble, featuring a larger 3.1-meter primary mirror compared to Hubble's 2.4-meter mirror. It is designed to offer swifter response times and different instruments, imaging the universe in optical light. Lazuli is planned to orbit Earth at an average distance of 275,000 km, significantly farther than Hubble's 77,000 km orbit, which aims to reduce interference from Earth's heat and light.
Stuart Feldman, President of Schmidt Sciences, stated that the organization intends to manage the project independently. This approach aims to meet a five-year deadline for design, construction, and launch, and to control costs. The strategy seeks to avoid the extended timelines and high costs associated with prior major space telescope projects, such as the James Webb Space Telescope. Feldman acknowledged that Schmidt Sciences is willing to undertake greater risks than government agencies typically would, while maintaining rigorous development processes to achieve a high probability of success.