spacetoday.net: Astrophysics decadal survey recommends series of space telescopes

Posted: Sun, Nov 7, 2021, 10:45 AM ET (1545 GMT)
The decadal survey for astrophysics recommended NASA pursue a series of flagship space missions starting with a large space telescope. The final report of the decadal survey, released Thursday, called for NASA to establish a Great Observatories Mission and Technology Maturation Program to develop technologies needed for future large missions. The first mission in that effort would be a space telescope six meters in diameter operating in ultraviolet, visible and infrared wavelengths, allowing astronomers to search for biosignatures on exoplanets as well as other astrophysics research. That telescope would cost an estimated $11 billion and launch in the early 2040s. The report also endorsed a line of smaller "probe-class" astrophysics missions, as well as investment by the NSF in two large ground-based observatories in development.