NASA Advances PRIMA Far-Infrared Telescope as First Probe Explorer Mission
NASA announced that PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics) has been selected as the first mission in a new class of astrophysics missions called Probe Explorers. The far-infrared space telescope will explore the history and evolution of the universe and is advancing to the next phase of development within NASA's longstanding Explorers Program.
The Probe Explorers class represents a new category of missions designed to fill a gap between smaller, faster-turnaround missions and larger flagship missions. PRIMA will use far-infrared wavelengths to observe phenomena that are difficult or impossible to study with optical or ultraviolet telescopes, including dust-shrouded star formation, distant galaxies, and objects in the outer solar system.
Far-infrared astronomy is particularly valuable for detecting thermal emission from cool dust and gas, enabling scientists to study regions where new stars and planetary systems are forming. The mission's selection marks an important step in expanding NASA's observational capabilities in this wavelength range, which has seen limited coverage since the conclusion of previous far-infrared missions.