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 has announced plans to develop PRIMA, a new class of space telescope set to launch in the early 2030s, according to a recent announcement. This telescope represents the first in a new line of observatories called Probe Explorers, which NASA aims to create to accomplish more scientific discoveries for less financial expenditure.
Typically, NASA's space telescopes fall into two categories: Explorer-class missions, which have cost caps in the range of a few hundred million dollars, and flagship observatories like the recently launched Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which cost around $4.3 billion. The Probe Explorer concept has been under development for several years after an independent panel of scientists recommended the creation of a new mission category.
However, the feasibility of such a project was uncertain until recently, as NASA's science budget has been facing pressure from the Trump administration.
Written by urgent.news from Ars Technica Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
