NASA to launch Israel’s first space telescope

NASA will launch Israel’s first space telescope mission, the Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite tv for pc (ULTRASAT). ULTRASAT, an ultraviolet observatory with a big subject of view, will examine the secrets and techniques of short-duration occasions within the universe, akin to supernova explosions and mergers of neutron stars.

Led by the Israel House Company and Weizmann Institute of Science, ULTRASAT is deliberate for launch into geostationary orbit round Earth in early 2026. Along with offering the launch service, NASA can even take part within the mission’s science program.

“We’re proud to hitch this partnership, an international effort that may assist us higher perceive the mysteries of the recent, transient universe,” mentioned Mark Clampin, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “ULTRASAT will give the worldwide science neighborhood one other necessary functionality for making new observations within the nascent subject of time area and multimessenger astrophysics applications.”

ULTRASAT’s broad subject of view will permit it to rapidly uncover and seize ultraviolet light from sources within the cosmos that change on quick timescales. Researchers will mix ULTRASAT’s observations of those short-term occasions with data from a wide range of different missions, together with these finding out gravitational waves and particles—a subject referred to as time area and multimessenger astronomy. The outcomes will make clear the workings of all the pieces from black holes and gravitational wave sources to supernovae and energetic galaxies.

“Groundbreaking science requires cutting-edge know-how,” mentioned Uri Oron, director of the Israel House Company within the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Know-how.

“Our necessities from ULTRASAT, akin to a large subject of view, superior ultraviolet sensitivity, and real-time knowledge management and switch are on the forefront of technological developments. Israel’s space trade can ship these capabilities. The Israel House Company is happy with the cooperation with NASA as a direct instance of the robust partnership between the companies, and of the Israeli space trade’s technological effort concerned within the improvement of the telescope.”

“This can be a breakthrough mission that locations Israel on the forefront of world analysis,” mentioned Eli Waxman, astrophysicist on the Weizmann Institute of Science and ULTRASAT’s head researcher.

“Main worldwide our bodies akin to NASA and the DESY analysis institute have joined this Israeli-led mission as companions, having acknowledged its scientific significance. They’re investing appreciable assets within the building and launch of the satellite to change into energetic contributors on this mission with entry to its scientific merchandise. It is a science-driven partnership.”