NASA Announces a New Class of Space Missions: Probe Explorers

Published on: October 9, 2024

By: Mark Thompson

Introduction

NASA has dispatched numerous spacecraft throughout the Solar System and even beyond. These span various categories, from crewed missions to robotic explorations. A recent announcement heralds a new mission class: Probe Explorers. This class is designed to bridge the gap between larger Flagship missions and smaller, less resource-intensive projects.

Included within this innovative category are two proposed missions: the Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite and the Probe Far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics. Each will receive a considerable financial investment of $5 million for a detailed 12-month concept study.

NASA’s Vision for Probe Explorers

The new Probe Explorers initiative is a component of NASA’s broader astrophysics program, illustrating the agency's commitment to fostering creativity in space exploration. According to Nicola Fox, NASA’s associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate, this initiative represents a significant step towards developing technologies crucial for future flagship missions. This program promises groundbreaking science aligned with the top astrophysics priorities of the decade.

After the concept study phase, a detailed evaluation process will determine which proposal will undergo further development and eventual launch set for 2032. This chosen mission will mark the inaugural entry into NASA's Probe Explorer program.

Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite

The Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite aims to deliver an expansive flat field-of-view with high spatial resolution. Its primary objective is to investigate supermassive black holes and their roles in galaxy evolution. Spearheaded by Principal Investigator Christopher Reynolds from the University of Maryland, this satellite seeks to build upon the monumental successes of previous X-ray observatories by unraveling the complex power sources associated with violent cosmic events.

This image shows Hercules A, a galaxy in the Hercules constellation. The X-ray observations show superheated gas, and the radio observations show jets of particles streaming away from the AGN at the center of the galaxy. The jets are almost 1 million light-years long.

Probe Far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics

The second proposed mission is the Probe Far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics, which intends to be a 1.8-meter telescope tasked with studying the far-infrared radiation permeating through space. Though James Webb Space Telescope already has some infrared capabilities, this new observatory will complement those efforts by exploring areas of the electromagnetic spectrum situated between those of the JWST and radio telescopes.

Managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, this mission aims to elucidate fundamental questions regarding the origins of planets, supermassive black holes, stars, and cosmic dust.

Annotated image of Digel Cloud 2S captured by Webb's NIRCam and MIRI, with compass arrows, a scale bar, colour key, and graphic overlays for reference.

Explorers Program Overview

Initiated in 1958, the Explorers Program stands as NASA's oldest active program. Its core aim is providing low-cost space access with regular mission launches. Within its extensive history, the Explorers Program has spearheaded over 90 successful science-led missions, contributing to significant scientific discoveries such as the identification of Earth's radiation belts.

Conclusion

The introduction of the Probe Explorers class is a vital step towards unlocking new scientific frontiers in astrophysics. NASA's commitment to supporting high-impact missions ensures that the future of space exploration remains bright, with opportunities to improve our understanding of the universe.

For further details, please refer to the official NASA announcements and the relevant publications on this development.

Source: NASA Establishes New Class of Astrophysics Missions, Selects Studies.