Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor
The Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor, commonly known as LUVOIR (/luːˈvwɑːr/), 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 astrophysics space mission concepts studied in preparation for the National Academy of Sciences 2020 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey.
Rendering of the LUVOIR-A observatory concept | |||||||||||
| Mission type | Space telescope | ||||||||||
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| Operator | NASA | ||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||
| Mission duration | 5 years (prime mission) (proposed) 10 years consumables 25 years lifetime goal for non-serviceable components | ||||||||||
| Start of mission | |||||||||||
| Launch date | 2039 (proposed) | ||||||||||
| Rocket | SLS Block 2 (proposed), SpaceX Starship (proposed) | ||||||||||
| Orbital parameters | |||||||||||
| Reference system | Sun-Earth L2 | ||||||||||
| Main | |||||||||||
| Type | Multi-wavelength space telescope | ||||||||||
| Diameter | 8 or 15.1 m (26 or 50 ft) | ||||||||||
| Wavelengths | UV, visible and infrared | ||||||||||
| Instruments | |||||||||||
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Mission proposal insignia | |||||||||||
While LUVOIR is a concept for a general-purpose observatory, it has the key science goal of characterizing a wide range of exoplanets, including those that might be habitable. An additional goal is to enable a broad range of astrophysics, from the reionization epoch, through galaxy formation and evolution, to star and planet formation. Powerful imaging and spectroscopy observations of Solar System bodies would also be possible.
LUVOIR would be a Large Strategic Science Mission and was considered for a development start sometime in the 2020s. The LUVOIR Study Team, under Study Scientist Aki Roberge, 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 ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths of light. The Final Report on the 5-year LUVOIR mission concept study was publicly released on 26 August 2019.
On 4 November 2021, the 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey 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 HabEx mission concepts.