NASA unveils habitable worlds observatory to find Earth-like planets
NASA is planning a new astrophysical mission to help find planets similar to our Earth. A key element of the mission will be the construction of the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) space telescope, which is set to be the latest equipment for finding habitable planets.
Contemporary space research often focuses on the search for exoplanets, planets orbiting other stars outside our Solar System. Discovering these distant worlds helps scientists understand how planets form and evolve while also identifying potential life-friendly locations.
Based on existing exoplanet research, about one in five stars may have a planet similar to our Earth, suitable for habitation. NASA is working on a new mission that will help locate more such planets. A key element of this mission is the construction of the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). Due to the equipment's capabilities, which far exceed those of current models, NASA also refers to it as a "super-Hubble."
NASA is building the HWO telescope
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) will be a large space telescope capable of observing in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared ranges. It will be the first mission to use a coronagraph to identify Earth-like planets that could sustain life near bright stars like our Sun and study them for signs of life.
The mission is in the very early stages of planning. The launch of the HWO telescope is planned for around 2040, but work on the new equipment has already begun. According to Universe Today, NASA has signed contracts with BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman to research optical systems, modelling infrastructure, mission designs, and the telescope's functions. The contract is worth 24 million CAD.
Work on the new functions is set to begin this summer. NASA will oversee the entire process, and the results will allow it to plan the mission development and construction phase.
