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Monday, November 9, 2026 · UTC
Missions & Exploration

NASA publishes HWO observatory design study, favors off-axis optics

The proposed next flagship space telescope is intended to succeed the James Webb Space Telescope once operational.

Luisa Marconi
Senior Space Correspondent
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NASA engineers design new telescope to search for life beyond Earth
NASA engineers design new telescope to search for life beyond Earth AI illustrationhow this picture was made
WASHINGTON, US, Oct 28, 2026 - NASA has published mission architecture designs for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, the telescope intended to replace the James Webb Space Telescope once operational.[1] The work was completed by the NASA Systems Engineering Team and published June 2026 in the Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems.[2] Researchers evaluated three separate telescope design configurations. The team favoured off-axis optical layouts for improved light gathering capability.[3]
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What this stands on
  1. HWO is intended to replace the James Webb Space Telescope as NASA's primary space observatory once operational · Universe Today
  2. NASA Systems Engineering Team published a June 2026 study in the Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems detailing HWO mission architecture designs · Universe Today
  3. Researchers evaluated three telescope design configurations, favoring off-axis optical layouts for improved light gathering capability · Universe Today
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