Photo: NASA
NASA is continuing development of the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), a next-generation space telescope designed to become one of the agency’s flagship astronomy missions in the coming decades. According to Space.com, its primary goal will be to identify and study planets beyond the Solar System that could potentially support life.
How HWO will differ from Hubble
Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope, which orbits relatively close to Earth, the Habitable Worlds Observatory will operate about 1.5 million kilometers from our planet.
This is the same general region where the James Webb Space Telescope is located. Because of the distance, astronauts will not be able to service the observatory directly, meaning maintenance will rely on robotic systems.
NASA envisions future robotic spacecraft carrying out repairs, replacing scientific instruments, fixing technical problems and installing upgraded equipment. If the final design proves too large to launch on a single rocket, parts of the observatory could also be assembled in space.
Long-term mission
According to NASA, designing the telescope for robotic servicing would significantly extend its operational lifetime and allow regular upgrades without the need to build an entirely new observatory.
The agency also plans to equip HWO with gamma-ray detectors, although the final specifications are still under development. These instruments are expected to broaden the mission’s scientific capabilities beyond the search for potentially habitable exoplanets.
The Habitable Worlds Observatory is currently expected to launch in the 2040s. Before then, NASA intends to test several new technologies that will be essential for the mission’s success.
