Theme

Astrophysics Observatories

The great observatories of the coming decades — surveying dark energy, imaging habitable worlds, and opening the low-frequency gravitational-wave and X-ray skies.

In brief

The next generation of space observatories.

Missions in this theme

AthenaMission concept
Under study · In reformulation; launch envisaged in the late 2030s
ESA's next great X-ray observatory — designed to study the hot, energetic universe, from the gas that binds galaxy clusters to the black holes that shaped galaxies, at far higher sensitivity than today's X-ray telescopes.
Habitable Worlds ObservatoryMission concept
Under study · In early design; launch envisaged in the 2040s
NASA's next flagship space telescope, recommended by the astronomy decadal survey — designed to directly image potentially habitable planets around other stars and search their atmospheres for signs of life.
LISAMission concept
In development · Launch planned in the mid-2030s
A space-based gravitational-wave observatory — three spacecraft forming a giant laser interferometer to hear the low-frequency ripples in spacetime that ground detectors cannot, from the mergers of the largest black holes.

Already in development or en route:

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Knowledge connections

Group includesHabitable Worlds Observatory
Group includesAthena
Group includesLISA
Group includesNancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Sources

Facts on this topic will be cited from these primary and reference sources.

NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.
ESAEuropean Space Agency
European missions, observatories, and space science imagery.

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Missions in this theme

AthenaMission concept
Under study · In reformulation; launch envisaged in the late 2030s
ESA's next great X-ray observatory — designed to study the hot, energetic universe, from the gas that binds galaxy clusters to the black holes that shaped galaxies, at far higher sensitivity than today's X-ray telescopes.
Habitable Worlds ObservatoryMission concept
Under study · In early design; launch envisaged in the 2040s
NASA's next flagship space telescope, recommended by the astronomy decadal survey — designed to directly image potentially habitable planets around other stars and search their atmospheres for signs of life.
LISAMission concept
In development · Launch planned in the mid-2030s
A space-based gravitational-wave observatory — three spacecraft forming a giant laser interferometer to hear the low-frequency ripples in spacetime that ground detectors cannot, from the mergers of the largest black holes.

Sources

Facts on this topic will be cited from these primary and reference sources.

NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration

Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.

Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.

ESAEuropean Space Agency

European missions, observatories, and space science imagery.