astrophysics
NASA selects gamma-ray telescope mission for development
NASA will develop a gamma-ray telescope intended to study the formation of chemical elements in the galaxy as its next small astrophysics mission.
NASA astrophysics director to step down
Paul Hertz, who has led NASA’s astrophysics programs for nearly a decade, will step down by the end of the year to pursue his “next challenge” at the space agency.
SpaceX to launch NASA astrophysics mission
SpaceX won a NASA contract Feb. 4 to launch a small astrophysics spacecraft, continuing the company’s string of similar agency contracts over the last two years.
NASA selects four small astrophysics missions for study
NASA has selected four small astrophysics missions for further study, although the agency cautions that not all may ultimately be flown.
Pandemic may delay several NASA astrophysics missions
Several NASA astrophysics missions in various stages of development are likely facing delays because of the coronavirus pandemic, an agency official said.
Pandemic delays launch of NASA astrophysics smallsat mission
The launch of a NASA astronomy smallsat mission next year will be postponed by several months after the pandemic delayed assembly of key elements of the spacecraft.
NASA selects finalists for next small astrophysics mission
NASA has selected four finalists for the agency’s next small astrophysics mission, including both spacecraft and International Space Station experiments to study a wide range of astronomical phenomena.
Cubesats gain broader acceptance for astrophysics missions
As one astronomy cubesat reaches the end of its mission, scientists and NASA officials argue that such spacecraft have demonstrated they can perform useful science often not feasible with larger missions.
Astronomy missions pass senior review
NASA has decided to extend the lifetimes of all eight astrophysics missions up for review, from large space telescopes to an instrument on the International Space Station.
Astrophysicists gear up for 2020 decadal survey
As astrophysicists prepare to begin their next decadal survey, other scientists and members of Congress endorsed the overall process even as they suggested some changes.
Foust Forward | Expanding budgets for an expanding universe
There’s little doubt, though, that JWST will eventually launch, even if the March 2021 date slips. The same isn’t the case for the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), NASA’s next flagship astrophysics mission.
Op-ed | The rocky landscape for astrophysics
Aside from the gaping hole in capabilities that WFIRST was uniquely designed to fill in the 2020s, NASA's projected out-year budget delivers a knock-out punch to future U.S. leadership in space astrophysics
NASA selects infrared astronomy survey mission
NASA has selected for development a mission that will perform a spectroscopic survey of the entire sky at near-infrared wavelengths to study the origins of solar systems, galaxies and the universe.
NASA planning alternative reviews of SOFIA
NASA is planning two alternative reviews of an airborne observatory amid conflicting congressional views on whether the program will be eligible for the next senior review of astrophysics missions.
NASA imposes cost caps on astrophysics flagship studies
NASA has directed teams studying proposed flagship-class missions for the next astrophysics decadal survey to fit their concepts within cost caps that could force major changes to their designs.
NASA drops request to delay next astrophysics decadal
Two months after suggesting the next major review of priorities in astrophysics research and missions to achieve those goals be delayed, the head of NASA’s science directorate says that study should stay on schedule.
Astronomers resist NASA push to delay astrophysics decadal survey
With uncertainty about the future of two large space telescopes, NASA is continuing to suggest that the next decadal survey for astrophysics be postponed, a move opposed by many astronomers.
NASA renames Swift mission after astronomer Neil Gehrels
NASA announced Jan. 10 that it was renaming the Swift astronomy spacecraft after its former principal investigator, who passed away last year.
Report lays out potential changes to WFIRST to reduce its cost
An independent review board for NASA’s next flagship astronomy mission concluded in its final report that the project is “not executable” without additional funding or adjustments to the spacecraft.
NASA trims reserves and shifts schedules to find astrophysics cost savings
Forced to find nearly $30 million in cost savings, NASA’s astrophysics program has trimmed budget reserves on one mission approaching launch and delayed the schedule of another.
