NASA Will Fund "Next Round" Of Study For Four Missions -- Then Ultimately Choose Two, For 2026 Or 2027 Launch

The future (it is often said) will belong to. . . science. And what we learn from it.

This, despite small portions of the electorate being both anti-science, and against lawful order. [Tangerine has promised to oppose the release of the warrant affidavits, in court filings next week in Florida. That ought to be. . . stultifying. No competent lawyer wants to represent him.]

Even so, we will choose to hope that those forces lose their voices, and their local elections, and we will press on -- to a future bounded only by what we may learn to be. . . the truth. Here's the latest, from Space.com:

. . .The two Medium Explorer teams will each receive $3 million for a nine-month mission concept study. These are:

▲ UltraViolet EXplorer (UVEX). The mission would survey the whole sky in ultraviolet light to provide new insights into galaxy evolution and the lifecycle of stars. The spacecraft would seek to capture light from the explosion that follows a burst of gravitational waves caused by merging neutron stars, as well as study massive stars and stellar explosions. The principal investigator is Fiona Harrison at Caltech in Pasadena, California.

▲ Survey and Time-domain Astrophysical Research Explorer (STAR-X). The spacecraft would use sensitive wide-field X-ray and ultraviolet telescopes to study supernova explosions and active galaxies. Deep X-ray surveys would map hot gas trapped in distant clusters of galaxies. Combined with infrared observations from NASA’s upcoming Roman Space Telescope, these observations would trace how massive clusters of galaxies built up over cosmic history. The principal investigator is William Zhang at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

The two Mission of Opportunity teams will each receive $750,000 to conduct their own nine-month concept study. These are:

▲ Moon Burst Energetics All-sky Monitor (MoonBEAM). The spacecraft would operate in the so-called halo orbit between Earth and the moon, meaning it would be able to see almost the whole sky at any time, watching for bursts of high-energy gamma rays from distant cosmic explosions. MoonBEAM would then rapidly alert other telescopes so they can study the source. The principal investigator is Chiumun Michelle Hui at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

▲ A LargE Area burst Polarimeter (LEAP). LEAP would be mounted on the International Space Station to study gamma-ray bursts from the energetic jets launched during the formation of black holes after the explosive death of a massive star, or in the merger of objects such as neutron stars, and black holes. The principal investigator is Mark McConnell at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.

The costs for medium explorer missions are capped at $300 million each, excluding the cost of launch. NASA Mission of Opportunity costs are capped at $80 million each. . . .

Now you know -- it is indeed a bright, science filled future ahead. . . even as GOP operatives (and incredibly, some candidates running for higher offices) call for violent attacks upon the agents of the IRS, FBI and US Marshals. These people. . . are insane.

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