NASA selects PRIMA far-infrared telescope as first Probe Explorer mission
NASA picked the PRIMA far-infrared space telescope to advance toward construction as the first mission in its new Probe Explorers class.
what happened
NASA selected the PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics) space telescope Sept. 23 as the first mission in its new Probe Explorers class, per NASA's own release. PRIMA advances to Phase B preliminary design, subject to a confirmation review of technical, programmatic and cost performance before it can begin Phase C implementation. The mission is capped at $1.2 billion excluding launch and other non-project costs, targets a 2033 launch, and would fly a 5.9-foot telescope cooled to 4.5 K for a planned five-year mission. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the project with Goddard and Marshall as partner centers, alongside international partners CNES, ASI, DLR, CSA, KASI, JAXA and the UK Space Agency.
why it matters
PRIMA is the first mission to reach this stage in NASA's new Probe Explorers class, a mid-size astrophysics tier the agency created to fly more frequent, focused science missions between its flagship and small Explorer programs; the selection sets the funding and schedule template instrument makers and mission integrators will watch for future Probe-class awards.
signal-to-noise
quick facts
- Companies
- NASA
- Category
- science
- Impact
- notable
- SNR
- 5 / 5
- Event date
- 2026-09-23
- Published
- 2026-09-23 22:01 UTC