Next-Gen Space Telescopes: Beyond Hubble

While Hubble continues to operate, new and planned space telescopes are pushing the boundaries of observation with advanced capabilities and different scientific objectives.

The top 3

  1. James Webb Space Telescope (JWST): Launched in December 2021, JWST is the largest space telescope to date, optimized for infrared astronomy to study the early universe, exoplanet atmospheres, and star/galaxy formation, seeing objects up to 100 times fainter than Hubble.
  2. Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope: Launched on August 30, 2026, the Roman Space Telescope, named after NASA's first chief of astronomy, features a wide field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble's, designed to survey dark energy, exoplanets, and map billions of galaxies.
  3. Future Concepts: LUVOIR & Habitable Worlds Observatory: Beyond current missions, future concepts like the Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR) and the Habitable Worlds Observatory aim for even larger mirrors (up to 15 meters) to directly image exoplanets and search for biosignatures.

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