With PRIMA, NASA will try to build a billion-dollar space telescope in record time
NASA's PRIMA mission will use spare parts from Webb to do major science at a lower cost.
NASA is set to launch a groundbreaking space telescope, PRIMA, in the early 2030s, according to recent announcements. This new mission, the first of its kind, will be part of NASA's innovative Probe Explorers series, which aims to deliver more scientific value for significantly less expenditure compared to traditional space telescopes.
The PRIMA mission will be a fiscal balancing act, bridging the gap between less expensive Explorer-class missions, typically costing a few hundred million dollars, and large-scale flagship observatories such as the recently inaugurated Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which has a budget of approximately $4.3 billion. NASA has been exploring the feasibility of a Probe Explorer mission for years, following recommendations from an independent panel of scientists.
However, the decision to proceed with development was only recently confirmed, contingent on the availability of sufficient funding within NASA's constrained budget, which is currently facing pressure from the Trump administration.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
