Space Missions

UMD has a history of leading NASA missions and designing new concepts. UMD astronomers are currently in leadership positions for two missions under phase-A study:

AXIS: The Advanced X-ray Imaging Satellite will bring X-ray astronomy back to the forefront of modern mainstream astrophysics. With a single instrument design, AXIS will offer superb arcsecond-resolution and high-sensitivity imaging in the 0.3–10 keV band. AXIS is an excellent facility for transient science, with a two-hour response time to alerts and onboard rapid transient detection.

AXIS observatory schematic
AXIS

PRIMA: The PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics is a far-infrared spectroscopic mission that has been selected by NASA for a phase A study. PRIMA covers the wavelength gap between JWST and ALMA, with two instruments operating in the 24-260 um range. Over 75% of PRIMA's observing time will be open to the community.

PRIMA schematic
PRIMA

Connected Researchers

Portrait of Tilden F. Barnes IV

Principal Faculty Specialist

Portrait of David Paul Bennett

Research Scientist

Portrait of Enrico Biancalani

Graduate Student

Portrait of Ellis Bogat

Graduate Student

Portrait of Stephen Bradley Cenko

Adjunct Professor

Portrait of Serena A. Cronin

Graduate Student

Portrait of Tony L. Farnham

Research Scientist

Portrait of Suvi Gezari

Associate Professor

Portrait of Tilak Hewagama

Associate Research Scientist

Portrait of Isiah Holt

Graduate Student

Portrait of Michael S. Kelley

Research Scientist

Portrait of Timothy A. Livengood

Associate Research Scientist

Portrait of Anna Ogorzalek

Visiting Assistant Research Scientist

Portrait of Tyler Anthony Pritchard

Visiting Assistant Research Scientist

Portrait of Jessica M Sunshine

Professor

Portrait of Sylvain Veilleux

Professor