NASA Selects PRIMA Space Telescope for New Billion-Dollar Probe Class

NASA is opening a fresh window into the obscure corners of the universe. The agency announced that the Probe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics, known as PRIMA, has advanced past initial evaluations to enter Phase B development following an official selection announced in September 2026. The observatory launches a brand-new line of spacecraft called Probe Explorers within the longstanding Explorers Program.

The mission carries a project cost cap of $1.2 billion, excluding launch services and other non-project expenses, if it successfully clears confirmation reviews based on technical, programmatic, and cost performance to enter Phase C implementation. Engineers and scientists are aiming for a launch in 2033, for a planned five-year mission.

What the PRIMA Space Telescope Will Observe in the Far-Infrared Spectrum

Equipped with a 5.9-foot telescope, PRIMA will conduct deep, sensitive surveys of the universe in far-infrared light wavelengths that remain largely hidden from traditional observatories. Such functionality serves to connect traditional radio facilities with current infrared assets like NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

The observatory is outfitted with a 1.8-meter cryogenically cooled telescope, an imaging polarimeter called PRIMARger, and the high-resolution spectrometer FIRESS as its three main scientific instruments. The detectors stem from three decades of research conducted by Caltech and JPL (managed by Caltech) that helped develop the type of detectors featured on PRIMA to operate its far-infrared cameras and spectrometer.

What Will NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Discover?

The PRIMA mission is humanity’s next window into the deep universe. It will unveil the obscure across cosmic time to better understand the formation of planets, stars, black holes, and even how water on Earth came to be, said Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington.

By investigating thermal radiation observable exclusively in the far-infrared spectrum, the project tackles diverse astrophysical inquiries, ranging from the genesis of exoplanets and the evolutionary trajectories of galaxies and central black holes to the historical accumulation of heavy elements and cosmic dust.

A single mission alone can’t probe all the universe’s mysteries. But by extending the survey capabilities of our fleet into far-infrared wavelengths with PRIMA, we’re enabling an incredibly comprehensive look at the cosmos, said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, director, Astrophysics Division, NASA Headquarters.

International Partners and Institutional Roles Across NASA Centers

Responsibility for the project’s development lies with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, working alongside the Goddard Space Flight Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, and international space authorities representing the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, Germany, France, Canada, and others.

NASA’s Roman Telescope May Double Its Lifespan Due to Fuel Efficiency

Meanwhile, the California Institute of Technology’s (Caltech) Infrared Processing & Analysis Center (IPAC) is designated as the mission science center where raw data from the telescope is received, processed, and archived for use by astronomers seeking to answer some of the universe’s deepest mysteries, according to Caltech.

PRIMA represents a giant leap for far-infrared astronomy, said Caltech President Ray Jayawardhana. By combining detector technology pioneered by our colleagues with deep scientific expertise across Caltech, JPL, and IPAC, PRIMA will help reveal fundamental cosmic processes that have long been hidden from view.

Cost Controls and Lessons From the Roman Space Telescope

PRIMA’s budget arrives as NASA weighs financial constraints for larger future concepts, such as the Habitable Worlds Observatory, where early cost estimates come in at around $11 billion, on par with Webb, which far exceeded its original cost projection.

This is a sufficiently ambitious observatory where it’s going to require an all-of-nation [approach], Domagal-Goldman said Tuesday in a meeting of the National Academies’ Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics. “Frankly, we’re going to need our partners internationally to be a big part of this as well. But we need the best and brightest from throughout the country, whether they’re at Goddard, another NASA center, an industry partner, a new space commercial partner, or a university, to be a part of what we’re doing.”

NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Captures First Starlight

Highlighting the successful delivery of the Nancy Grace Roman observatory ahead of schedule and within financial limits, Domagal-Goldman mentioned during the week that NASA intends to apply these budgetary strategies to upcoming flagship initiatives such as HWO, emphasizing that exceeding budgets and timelines is not an inevitable rule for these missions. Insights gained from past flagship projects highlight the necessity of establishing clear mission requirements and maturing core technologies before hardware manufacturing begins.

“With our Webb and Roman space telescopes, we set a cadence of launching premiere-class missions in both halves of the decade. We’re going to keep that up and kick off the next decade with PRIMA, as part of a pipeline that will consistently have missions of this caliber ready to go,” Domagal-Goldman said.