The Origins Space Telescope

TL;DR

The Origins Space Telescope is a highly sensitive infrared observatory designed to explore cosmic origins, galaxy formation, water and life signs on exoplanets, promising groundbreaking discoveries with a thousandfold sensitivity increase.

Contribution

It introduces a new highly sensitive infrared telescope concept with unprecedented discovery potential for understanding cosmic origins and astrophysical phenomena.

Findings

Up to 1,000 times more sensitive than previous missions

Will enable new insights into galaxy and black hole growth

Potential to detect signs of water and life on exoplanets

Abstract

The Origins Space Telescope, one of four large Mission Concept studies sponsored by NASA for review in the 2020 US Astrophysics Decadal Survey, will open unprecedented discovery space in the infrared, unveiling our cosmic origins. We briefly describe in this article the key science themes and architecture for OST. With a sensitivity gain of up to a factor of 1,000 over any previous or planned mission, OST will open unprecedented discovery space, allow us to peer through an infrared window teeming with possibility. OST will fundamentally change our understanding of our cosmic origins - from the growth of galaxies and black holes, to uncovering the trail of water, to life signs in nearby Earth-size planets, and discoveries never imagined. Built to be highly adaptable, while addressing key science across many areas of astrophysics, OST will usher in a new era of infrared astronomy.