NASA has selected a new space telescope to study the history and evolution of the universe. The mission, named PRIMA, will observe the cosmos in far-infrared light. It is the first project in a new class of missions called Probe Explorers. PRIMA has now advanced to the next phase, where engineers refine its design and technology. If confirmed, its cost will be capped at 1.2 billion dollars, excluding the launch and other outside costs. The observatory is targeted to lift off in 2033 for a five-year mission.
Far-infrared light reveals objects that stay invisible to most other telescopes. PRIMA will therefore bridge the gap between the James Webb telescope and radio observatories. Its surveys could explain how planets form around distant stars. They may also show how galaxies and their black holes have grown across cosmic time. Scientists even hope to learn how water first arrived on Earth.