# NASA Selects PRIMA as First Probe Explorer Mission

_Published Friday, September 25, 2026 at 7:31 PM EDT · Science · Latest · Tier 1 — Major_

![NASA Selects PRIMA as First Probe Explorer Mission — Primary](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/prima_art-1152x648.jpg)

NASA announced it will proceed with PRIMA (Probe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics) as the inaugural Probe Explorer mission, a billion-dollar space telescope targeted for launch in the early 2030s.

The mission fills a new category NASA created to balance low-cost Explorer missions with multibillion-dollar flagships like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. PRIMA was the sole finalist after NASA disqualified the competing AXIS X-ray observatory, which a concept study indicated would not meet the agency's schedule and budget constraints.

The mission will be led by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

## Sources

- [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/09/nasa-green-lights-billion-dollar-infrared-observatory-for-launch-in-early-2030s/)

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Canonical: https://techandbusiness.org/newswire/PIhzXrEQOGxf4Gqi18XQLv
Published: 2026-09-25T23:31:16.535Z
Story chronology: 2026-09-25T14:07:46.000Z
Retrieved: 2026-09-26T03:05:24.612Z
Publisher: Tech & Business (techandbusiness.org)