NASA's First Selection for a New Class of Mission: The PRIMA Far-Infrared Telescope

What happened

NASA announced Wednesday a mission to explore the history and evolution of the universe, PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics), is advancing to the next phase of development. NASA's First Selection for a New Class of Mission: The PRIMA Far-Infrared Telescope By Matthew Williams - October 01, 2026 10:09 PM UTC | Missions On September 23rd, NASA announced its first selection in a new class of astrophysics missions called Probe Explorers. NASA is a space exploration and public company founded in 1958.

As part of its commitment to studying the history and evolution of the Universe, NASA's proposed PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA) has advanced to the next phase of development. NASA selected PRIMA for development after a detailed evaluation of concept studies, based on alignment with the Decadal Survey's science goals, cost and schedule, and the use of technologies that could support future larger missions.

This space telescope is the first in a new class of NASA astrophysics missions, called Probe Explorers, within the agency’s longstanding Explorers Program. The new mission class was established based on the recommendations of the NASEM 2020 Decadal Survey, titled " Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s " (Astro2020). Far-infrared image of the Andromeda galaxy from the ESA's Herschel Space Observatory.

Key facts

• NASA — announced: Wednesday a mission to explore the history and evolution of the universe, PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics), is advancing to the next phase of development