Experts from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration have selected two proposals for the creation of future space telescopes. Each project will be awarded five million dollars in annual research to advance it.
The future winner will receive a grant worth one billion dollars for the development and commissioning of the newest space observatory, planned for 2032. Both proposals were submitted by astronomers from the University of Maryland.
One of the missions selected was the Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite, or AXIS. The observatory is designed with a wide field of view and high spatial resolution. Thanks to this telescope, scientists plan to study supermassive black holes and gas and dust flows in galaxies.
The other mission selected is the Far Infrared Research Mission for Astrophysics, or PRIMA. It is a 1.8-meter telescope optimized for obtaining images in the far infrared range. The aim is to answer questions about the formation of galaxies, heavy elements and interstellar dust.