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Main Authors: Feinberg, Lee D., Sitarski, Breann N., McElwain, Michael W., Arney, Giada, Baker, Caleb, Bolcar, Matthew R., Levine, Marie, Liu, Alice, Mennesson, Bertrand, Roberge, Aki, Smith, J. Scott, Zhao, Feng, Ziemer, John
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.11803
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author Feinberg, Lee D.
Sitarski, Breann N.
McElwain, Michael W.
Arney, Giada
Baker, Caleb
Bolcar, Matthew R.
Levine, Marie
Liu, Alice
Mennesson, Bertrand
Roberge, Aki
Smith, J. Scott
Zhao, Feng
Ziemer, John
author_facet Feinberg, Lee D.
Sitarski, Breann N.
McElwain, Michael W.
Arney, Giada
Baker, Caleb
Bolcar, Matthew R.
Levine, Marie
Liu, Alice
Mennesson, Bertrand
Roberge, Aki
Smith, J. Scott
Zhao, Feng
Ziemer, John
contents The Habitable Worlds Observatory is the first telescope ever designed to search for life and will be a powerhouse of discovery across topics in astrophysics. The observatory was the top recommendation of the Astro2020 Decadal Survey for large missions and a new HWO Technology Maturation Project Office was formed in August 2024 to mature the architecture, science and technology. In this paper we review the overall approach taken to mature the mission concept. We show progress on architecture development, integrated modeling, science cases, and technology roadmaps consistent with pre-formulation studies. We discuss plans for instrument studies and international engagement and science engagement including a Community Science and Instrument Team. Finally, we describe the plan forward to the Mission Concept Review.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_11803
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Habitable Worlds Observatory's Concept and Technology Maturation: Initial Feasibility and Trade Space Exploration
Feinberg, Lee D.
Sitarski, Breann N.
McElwain, Michael W.
Arney, Giada
Baker, Caleb
Bolcar, Matthew R.
Levine, Marie
Liu, Alice
Mennesson, Bertrand
Roberge, Aki
Smith, J. Scott
Zhao, Feng
Ziemer, John
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
The Habitable Worlds Observatory is the first telescope ever designed to search for life and will be a powerhouse of discovery across topics in astrophysics. The observatory was the top recommendation of the Astro2020 Decadal Survey for large missions and a new HWO Technology Maturation Project Office was formed in August 2024 to mature the architecture, science and technology. In this paper we review the overall approach taken to mature the mission concept. We show progress on architecture development, integrated modeling, science cases, and technology roadmaps consistent with pre-formulation studies. We discuss plans for instrument studies and international engagement and science engagement including a Community Science and Instrument Team. Finally, we describe the plan forward to the Mission Concept Review.
title Habitable Worlds Observatory's Concept and Technology Maturation: Initial Feasibility and Trade Space Exploration
topic Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.11803