PRIMA’s planned Phase B development targets a 2033 launch
SCIENCEUnverifiedUpdated:
Ars Technica reports that NASA has moved the PRIMA far-infrared observatory into Phase B development, setting a reported path toward a 2033 launch under a $1.2 billion cost cap excluding launch costs.
Phase B approval for a far-infrared mission
According to the report, NASA gave PRIMA—the Probe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics—the green light for Phase B development. PRIMA is intended to observe faint far-infrared light and is planned to use a spare cryocooler component from the James Webb Space Telescope program, modified to use helium-3 cooling fluid.
Before the newly reported approval, PRIMA had been the sole finalist for NASA’s first Probe Explorer mission. The supplied report does not provide a directly comparable earlier development-phase designation.
NASA has reportedly authorized PRIMA to enter Phase B development. The mission would proceed toward a preliminary design review, followed by a later confirmation review that would determine whether to move on to flight-hardware integration.
Flight-hardware integration approval comes later
The report describes PRIMA as the first in NASA’s new Probe Explorer class, meant to sit between lower-cost Explorer missions and multibillion-dollar flagship observatories. Its reported Phase B entry is a program commitment, but not final approval to integrate flight hardware.
Sources
- Ars TechnicaWith PRIMA, NASA will try to build a billion-dollar space telescope in record timeRead source →