Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor

The Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor, commonly known as LUVOIR , is a multi-wavelength <a href="/facts/Space_telescope/BtI46sDX">space telescope</a> concept being developed by <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a> under the leadership of a <a href="/facts/STEM_fields/NAsAI1nG">Science and Technology Definition Team</a>. It is one of four large astrophysics space mission concepts studied in preparation for the <a href="/facts/National_Academy_of_Sciences/M3oePVeG">National Academy of Sciences</a> 2020 <a href="/facts/Astronomy_and_Astrophysics_Decadal_Survey/xxYLYVpM">Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey</a>. 
While LUVOIR is a concept for a general-purpose observatory, it has the key science goal of characterizing a wide range of <a href="/facts/Exoplanet/zjfmqfUf">exoplanets</a>, including those that might be <a href="/facts/Planetary_habitability/n8A0ehR8">habitable</a>. An additional goal is to enable a broad range of <a href="/facts/Astrophysics/krFPRWLA">astrophysics</a>, from the <a href="/facts/Reionization/tfqf1Ny9">reionization</a> epoch, through galaxy formation and evolution, to <a href="/facts/Star_formation/SMyfVDY6">star</a> and <a href="/facts/Nebular_hypothesis/IT3D6MpE">planet formation</a>. Powerful imaging and <a href="/facts/Spectroscopy/mj71FuNK">spectroscopy</a> observations of <a href="/facts/Solar_System/QIcLSazQ">Solar System</a> bodies would also be possible. 
LUVOIR would be a <a href="/facts/Large_strategic_science_missions/0b0FrMnI">Large Strategic Science Mission</a> and was considered for a development start sometime in the 2020s. The LUVOIR Study Team, under Study Scientist <a href="/facts/Aki_Roberge/YqpmE2se">Aki Roberge</a>, has produced designs for two variants of LUVOIR: one with a 15.1 m diameter telescope mirror (LUVOIR-A) and one with an 8 m diameter mirror (LUVOIR-B). LUVOIR would be able to observe <a href="/facts/Ultraviolet/kncBUqn5">ultraviolet</a>, <a href="/facts/Visible_light/jeofpMn4">visible</a>, and <a href="/facts/Near-infrared/44XdJNcc">near-infrared</a> <a href="/facts/Electromagnetic_spectrum/24LARvFY">wavelengths of light</a>. The Final Report on the 5-year LUVOIR mission concept study was publicly released on 26 August 2019.
On 4 November 2021, the <a href="/facts/Astronomy_and_Astrophysics_Decadal_Survey/xxYLYVpM">2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey</a> recommended development of a "large (~6 m aperture) infrared/optical/ultraviolet (IR/O/UV) space telescope", with the science goals of searching for signatures of life on planets outside of the Solar System and enabling a wide range of transformative astrophysics. Such a mission draws upon both the LUVOIR and <a href="/facts/Habitable_Exoplanet_Imaging_Mission/rKMLCH0n">HabEx</a> mission concepts.

Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor open-in-new

Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor