NASA Targets 2050 to Identify 25 Habitable Planets with New $11 Billion Telescope

By Govind Tekele By Govind Tekele

NASA plans to find 25 livable planets by 2050, and the ambitious livable Worlds Observatory (HWO) will be at the forefront of this endeavour.

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The HWO seeks to identify chemical "biosignatures" in the atmospheres of exoplanets in order to transform the hunt for alien life.

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With an 8-meter mirror, the HWO outperforms the James Webb Space Telescope, allowing for in-depth study of planets that resemble Earth.

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To maximise the HWO's observations, a novel sunshield will filter out undesired light so that it may concentrate on certain solar systems and transiting exoplanets.

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The HWO will be able to identify essential chemicals like oxygen and methane, which are vital for determining if a planet is habitable, thanks to advanced spectroscopic analysis.

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Contracts worth $17.5 million have already been given by NASA to develop cutting-edge optics and mission ideas for the HWO.

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Construction on the HWO is scheduled to start in the middle of 2024 and be finished in ten years.

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Current exoplanet research suggests that one in five stars may have an Earth-like planet, increasing the mission potential of the HWO.

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NASA's Mark Clampin highlights the HWO's strategic development strategy, hoping to provide a strong basis for this momentous mission.

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