{
  "id": 9822489,
  "title": "With PRIMA, NASA will try to build a billion-dollar space telescope in record time",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/with-prima-nasa-will-try-to-build-a-billion-dollar-space-telescope-in-9822489",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-25T14:07:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica Science",
    "slug": "ars-technica-science",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/09/nasa-green-lights-billion-dollar-infrared-observatory-for-launch-in-early-2030s/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "NASA's PRIMA mission will use spare parts from Webb to do major science at a lower cost.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}