This list contains proposals for

space telescopes A space telescope (also known as space observatory) is a telescope in outer space used to observe astronomical objects. Suggested by Lyman Spitzer in 1946, the first operational telescopes were the American Orbiting Astronomical Observatory, ...

, space-based (situated in space)

astronomical observatories An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysics, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. Th ...

. It is a list of past and present space observatory plans, concepts, and proposals. For observatories in orbit, see

list of space telescopes This list of space telescopes (astronomy, astronomical space observatory, space observatories) is grouped by major frequency ranges: gamma ray, x-ray, ultraviolet, visible light, visible, infrared, microwave and radio. Telescopes that work in mult ...

. Unlike that list, this one includes concepts and proposals that are unlikely ever to be launched, as they may have been cancelled or were only proposals.

Space observatories under development

Merged, cancelled, or superseded space observatories

Additional examples and non-space telescopes

For launch in the 2030s, NASA is evaluating four possible designs: the

Origins Space Telescope Origins Space Telescope (''Origins'') is a concept study for a far-infrared survey space telescope mission.Lynx X-ray Observatory The Lynx X-ray Observatory (''Lynx'') is a NASA-funded Large strategic science missions, Large Mission Concept Study commissioned as part of the National Academy of Sciences 2020 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey. The concept study phas ...

Habitable Exoplanets Observatory The Habitable Exoplanet Observatory (HabEx) is a space telescope concept that would be optimized to search for and image Earth-size Planetary habitability, habitable exoplanets in the Circumstellar habitable zone, habitable zones of their stars, ...

(HabEx), and Large UV Optical Infrared Surveyor ( LUVOIR). Balloon-borne telescopes have been in use since the 1950s. A 20–30 meter balloon telescope has been suggested. The balloon would be transparent on one side, and have a circular reflecting mirror on the other side. There are two main designs using this principle. *Large Balloon Reflector (LBR) (sub-orbital version) *Space-based Large Balloon Reflector (LBR) **TeraHertz Space Telescope (TST)

Additional examples

Advanced Telescope for High Energy Astrophysics Advanced Telescope for High-ENergy Astrophysics (''Athena'') is an X-ray observatory mission selected by European Space Agency (ESA) within its Cosmic Vision program to address the Hot and Energetic Universe scientific theme. ''Athena'' will o ...

(ATHENA) * Big Bang Observer * Cosmological Advanced Survey Telescope for Optical and UV Research (CASTOR) *

Deci-hertz Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory The DECi-hertz Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (or DECIGO) is a proposed Japanese, space-based, gravitational wave observatory. The laser interferometric gravitational wave detector is so named because it is designed to be most se ...

(DECIGO) *

EChO In audio signal processing and acoustics, an echo is a reflection of sound that arrives at the listener with a delay after the direct sound. The delay is directly proportional to the distance of the reflecting surface from the source and the lis ...

Fast Infrared Exoplanet Spectroscopy Survey Explorer Fast Infrared Exoplanet Spectroscopy Survey Explorer (FINESSE) was a NASA mission proposal for a space observatory operating in the Near-infrared spectrum for the Medium-Class Explorers program. The Principal Investigator was Mark Swain of th ...

(FINESSE) * Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer (GEMS) *

(HabEx), a large UV to NIR focused design, 4 meter mirror *

LOFT A loft is a building's upper storey or elevated area in a room directly under the roof (American usage), or just an attic: a storage space under the roof usually accessed by a ladder (primarily British usage). A loft apartment refers to large ...

- Large Observatory For X-ray Timing *

Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor The Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor, commonly known as LUVOIR (), is a multi-wavelength space telescope concept being developed by NASA under the leadership of a Science and Technology Definition Team. It is one of four large astro ...

* Large Interferometer For Exoplanets *

Nautilus Deep Space Observatory Nautilus Deep Space Observatory (NDSO) (also known as Nautilus array, Nautilus mission, Nautilus program, Nautilus telescope array and Project Nautilus) is a proposed deep space fleet of space telescopes designed to search for biosignatures of ...

Near-Earth Object Surveillance Mission NEO Surveyor, formerly called Near-Earth Object Camera (NEOCam), then NEO Surveillance Mission, is a planned space-based infrared telescope designed to survey the Solar System for potentially hazardous asteroids.

(NEOcam)) * PEGASE * Planetary Dynamics Explorer * Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA) * Telescope for Habitable Exoplanets and Interstellar/Intergalactic Astronomy (THEIA) *

THESEUS Theseus (, ; ) was a divine hero in Greek mythology, famous for slaying the Minotaur. The myths surrounding Theseus, his journeys, exploits, and friends, have provided material for storytelling throughout the ages. Theseus is sometimes desc ...

* Waypoint-1 Space Telescope, visible light, UV and hyper-spectral imaging for astrophysical research and ground observation *

Whipple Whipple may refer to: People * Whipple (surname), a list of people with the surname * Whip Jones (1909–2001), American ski industry pioneer, founder, developer and original operator of the Aspen Highlands ski area in Aspen, Colorado * Whipple Va ...

, proposed transit telescope for KBO and Oort objects * ZEBRA,

Zodiacal dust The interplanetary dust cloud, or zodiacal cloud (as the source of the zodiacal light), consists of cosmic dust (small particles floating in outer space) that pervades the space between planets within planetary systems, such as the Solar System ...

, Extragalactic Background and Reionization Apparatus A small infrared observatory sent out to 10 AU by NASA * Membrane Space Telescope: A concept of huge reflecting telescopes in space, where the primary mirror would be composed of very thin and lightweight membrane, that would be kept in the required accurate shape by thermal radiative pressure projected from behind. ~15nm RMS precision was achieved in prototype testing.

References

External links

Video (86:49) – "Search for Life in the Universe"
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NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...