Astronomy:List of proposed space telescopes
This list contains proposals for space telescopes, space-based (situated in space) astronomical observatories. It is a list of past and present space observatory plans, concepts, and proposals. For observatories in orbit, see list of space telescopes. Unlike that list, this one includes concepts and proposals that are unlikely ever to be launched, as they may have been cancelled or were only proposals.
Space observatories under development
Name | Agency | Type | Proposed launch date |
Status | Proposed location | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SVOM | CNSA/CNES | X-Ray | 24 June 2024 | Under construction | Low Earth orbit | [1] |
TOLIMAN | NASA | visible | 2024 | Proposal | Low Earth orbit | [2] |
Xuntian | CNSA | ultraviolet, visible, infrared | 2024 | under construction | Low Earth orbit | [3][4] |
PLATO | ESA | visible | 2026 | Under construction | Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point | |
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (formerly WFIRST) | NASA | infrared | 2026-2027 | confirmed and named 2020 | Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point | [5][6] |
Spektr-UV (WSO-UV) | Roscosmos | ultraviolet | 2030 | funded | Geosynchronous orbit | [7][8] |
LiteBIRD | JAXA | millimeter radio | 2032 | Approved for development | Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point | [9][10] |
AXIS (Advanced X-Ray Imaging Satellite) | NASA | X-Ray | 2032 | early planning | Low Earth orbit | |
Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) | ESA/NASA | gravitational waves | 2037 | Approved for development | Solar Earth-trailing orbit (approx. 1 AU) | [12] |
Astrosat-2 | ISRO | Near Ultraviolet, Far Ultraviolet, Visible | TBD | – | Low Earth orbit | [13] |
Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) | NASA | Ultraviolet, Visible, Infrared | 2041 | early planning 'Phase 1' | Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point | |
X-Ray Great Observatory (nicknamed Fire) | NASA | X-Ray | 2047 | early planning 'Phase 1' | possibly Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point | |
Far-Infrared Great Observatory (nicknamed Smoke) | NASA | Far-Infrared | 2051 | early planning 'Phase 1' | possibly Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point |
Merged, cancelled, or superseded space observatories
Name | Agency | Type | Proposed launch date |
Status | Proposed location | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
X-Ray Evolving Universe Spectroscopy Mission (XEUS) | ESA | X-ray | Merged into IXO | – | [15] | |
Constellation-X | NASA | X-ray | – | |||
International X-ray Observatory (IXO) | NASA & ESA & JAXA | X-ray | No funding 2011; rebooted as ATHENA | – | [16] | |
Exoplanetary Circumstellar Environments and Disk Explorer (EXCEDE) | NASA | ? | 2016 | – | Sun-synchronous Earth orbit, 2000 km | [17][18] |
SIM Lite Astrometric Observatory | NASA | ? | 2015 | No funding 2010 | – | [19] |
Darwin Mission | ESA | ? | – | – | Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point | [20] |
Terrestrial Planet Finder | NASA | ? | TBA | No funding 2011 | – | [21] |
Dark Universe Observatory | NASA | ? | Superseded by Roman/WFIRST | Earth orbit (600 km) | [22][23] | |
Joint Dark Energy Mission | NASA & DOE | ? | – | [24] | ||
Astromag Free-Flyer (Particles) | NASA | ? | 1 January 2005 | – | Earth orbit (500 km) | [25][26] |
VSOP-2 (Astro-G) (Radio) | JAXA | ? | 2012 | Cancelled 2011 | – | [27] |
SAFIR | NASA | far infrared | Superseded by Origins | Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point | ref? |
Additional examples and non-space telescopes
For launch in the 2030s, NASA is evaluating four possible designs: the Origins Space Telescope, Lynx X-ray Surveyor, Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission (HabEx), and Large UV Optical Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR).[28]
Balloon-borne telescopes have been in use since the 1950s. A 20–30 meter balloon telescope has been suggested.[29] The balloon would be transparent on one side, and have a circular reflecting mirror on the other side.[29] There are two main designs using this principle.[29]
- Large Balloon Reflector (LBR) (sub-orbital version)
- Space-based Large Balloon Reflector (LBR)
- TeraHertz Space Telescope (TST)[30]
Additional examples
- Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics (ATHENA)
- Big Bang Observer
- Cosmological Advanced Survey Telescope for Optical and UV Research (CASTOR)
- Deci-hertz Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (DECIGO)
- EChO
- Fast INfrared Exoplanet Spectroscopy Survey Explorer (FINESSE)
- Gravity and Extreme Magnetism (GEMS)
- Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission (HabEx), a large UV to NIR focused design, 4 meter mirror [31]
- LOFT - Large Observatory For X-ray Timing
- Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor
- Large Interferometer For Exoplanets
- Nautilus Deep Space Observatory[32][33][34]
- Near-Earth Object Surveillance Mission (formerly Near-Earth Object Camera (NEOcam))
- PEGASE
- Planetary Dynamics Explorer[35]
- Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA)
- Telescope for Habitable Exoplanets and Interstellar/Intergalactic Astronomy (THEIA)
- THESEUS
- Waypoint-1 Space Telescope, visible light, UV and hyper-spectral imaging for astrophysical research and ground observation[36]
- Whipple, proposed transit telescope for KBO and Oort objects
- ZEBRA, Zodiacal dust, Extragalactic Background and Reionization Apparatus [37] A small infrared observatory sent out to 10 AU by NASA[38]
See also
References
- ↑ "Svom". http://www.svom.fr/en/.
- ↑ "The TOLIMAN mission: precision astrometry for exoplanetary discovery in the solar neighborhood". https://indico.ict.inaf.it/event/726/attachments/1414/2686/TOLIMAN_Science-4.pdf.
- ↑ Jones, Andrew (28 February 2023). "China to expand its space station, international astronaut selection underway". SpaceNews. https://spacenews.com/china-to-expand-its-space-station-international-astronaut-selection-underway/.
- ↑ "Flagship Chinese Space Telescope to Unravel Cosmic Mysteries". Chinese Academy of Sciences. 7 May 2022. https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/cas_media/202205/t20220507_305162.shtml.
- ↑ "NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Roman Space Telescope". NASA (Press release). 19 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ↑ Balzer, Ashley (9 November 2021). "NASA's Roman Mission Will Help Empower a New Era of Cosmological Discovery". NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/nasa-s-roman-mission-will-help-empower-a-new-era-of-cosmological-discovery.
- ↑ "В Институте астрономии РАН заявили, что обсерваторию "Спектр-УФ" не запустят до 2030 года" (in ru). TASS. 21 December 2023. https://tass.ru/kosmos/19601327.
- ↑ Zak, Anatoly (30 December 2022). "Spektr-UF | Russian ultraviolet astronomy's long road to space". RussianSpaceWeb. https://www.russianspaceweb.com/spektr_uf.html.
- ↑ "The origin of the Universe will be unveiled by the LiteBIRD cryogenic satellite". Grenoble Alpes University. 3 July 2023. https://www.d-sbt.fr/en/Pages/News/2023_Thomas-Prouve.aspx.
- ↑ Concept design of the LiteBIRD satellite for CMB B-mode polarization. Y. Sekimoto; P. Ade; K. Arnold; J. Aumont; J. Austermann, etal. Proceedings Volume 10698, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave; 106981Y (2018) doi:10.1117/12.2313432 Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 9 August 2018, Austin, Texas, United States.
- ↑ A bot will complete this citation soon. Click here to jump the queue arXiv:2311.00780.
- ↑ "LISA | Mission Summary". ESA. 8 November 2021. https://sci.esa.int/web/lisa/-/61367-mission-summary.
- ↑ "Isro plans to launch India's 2nd space observatory". The Times of India. 19 February 2018. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/isro-plans-to-launch-indias-2nd-space-observatory/articleshow/62975636.cms.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Bruce Dominey (27 January 2023). "After Webb? NASA Is Already Planning New Great Space Observatories". Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2023/01/27/after-webb-nasa-is-already-planning-new-great-space-observatories/?sh=1519ae551b6b. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ↑ "KEUS – The X-Ray Evolving Universe Spectroscopy Mission". ESA. http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=xeus.
- ↑ "Official NASA IXO Home Page". NASA. http://ixo.gsfc.nasa.gov/.
- ↑ "EXCEDE Home Page". University of Arizona. http://soweb.as.arizona.edu/~gschneider/EXCEDE_OVERVIEW.html.
- ↑ "EXCEDE the Search for Planets". Astrobiology Magazine. 17 February 2012. http://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/4574/excede-the-search-for-planets.
- ↑ "SIM Lite JPL". NASA. http://sim.jpl.nasa.gov.
- ↑ "ESA Science & Technology: Darwin". ESA. http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=28.
- ↑ "Planet Quest: Missions – Terrestrial Planet Finder". NASA. http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/TPF/tpf_index.cfm.
- ↑ "Dark Universe Observatory". Sonoma State University. http://epo.sonoma.edu/duo/index.html.
- ↑ "Dark Universe Observatory – About the Launch Vehicle and Orbit". Sonoma State University. http://epo.sonoma.edu/duo/observatory/obslaunch.html.
- ↑ "Destiny JDEM Mission Public Page". National Optical Astronomy Observatory. http://www.noao.edu/noao/staff/lauer/destiny.htm.
- ↑ "NASA – NSSD – Spacecraft – Trajectory Details (Astromag FF)". NASA. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=ASTRMAG.
- ↑ "NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details (Astromag-F)". NASA. https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=ASTRMAG.
- ↑ "VSOP-2 project". JAXA. http://www.vsop.isas.jaxa.jp/vsop2/.
- ↑ Scoles, Sarah. "NASA Considers Its Next Flagship Space Telescope". http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nasa-considers-its-next-flagship-space-telescope/.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Hall, Loura (3 May 2016). "Ballooning Expectations: New Approach for Astronomy". https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ballooning-expectations-new-approach-for-astronomy.
- ↑ Dunn, Marina Madeline; Lesser, David; O'Dougherty, Stephan; Swift, Brandon; Pat, Terrance; Cortez, German; Smith, Steve; Goldsmith, Paul et al. (January 2017). "TeraHertz Space Telescope (TST)" (in en). AAS 229: 238.30. Bibcode: 2017AAS...22923830D.
- ↑ "Habitable Exoplanet Observatory (HabEx)". https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/habex/.
- ↑ University of Arizona (2 August 2019). "A new lens for life-searching space telescopes - University of Arizona researchers have designed a new kind of telescope that is a cheaper, lighter and more powerful option than creating telescopes using ever-larger mirrors. With a fleet of the newly designed space telescopes, they aim to scour a thousand potentially earth-like planets for signs of life.". EurekAlert!. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-08/uoa-anl080219.php.
- ↑ Apai, Dániel; Milster, Tom D.; Kim, Dae Wook; Bixel, Alex; Schneider, Glenn; Liang, Ronguang; Arenberg, Jonathan (29 July 2019). "A Thousand Earths: A Very Large Aperture, Ultralight Space Telescope Array for Atmospheric Biosignature Surveys". The Astronomical Journal 158 (2): 83. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab2631. Bibcode: 2019AJ....158...83A.
- ↑ Apai, D. (2018). "Nautilus DeepSpace Observatory: A Giant Segmented Space Telescope Array for a Galactic Biosignature Survey". Universities Space Research Association. https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/deepspace2018/pdf/3127.pdf.
- ↑ "M. Wong, et al. – A Dedicated Space Observatory for Time-domain Solar System Science". http://www.lpi.usra.edu/decadal/opag/wong_PDX090727.pdf.
- ↑ "Space Telescopes". http://www.spacefab.us/space-telescopes.html.
- ↑ "NASA Considers Sending a Telescope to Outer Solar System - Universe Today". 19 December 2011. http://www.universetoday.com/91947/nasa-considers-sending-a-telescope-to-the-outer-solar-system/.
- ↑ "ZEBRA". http://zebra.caltech.edu/.
External links
- Video (86:49) – "Search for Life in the Universe" – NASA (July 14, 2014).
Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List of proposed space telescopes.
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