NASA has chosen the Ultraviolet Explorer (UVEX) spacecraft for development as its next astrophysics Medium-class Explorer mission. However, due to budget challenges, the launch of UVEX has been delayed by two years. The spacecraft will conduct an all-sky survey at ultraviolet wavelengths and will be able to identify ultraviolet sources of energetic events such as neutron star mergers that create bursts of gravitational waves.
The selection of UVEX was announced by NASA on February 13. Nicola Fox, NASA associate administrator for science, expressed excitement about the mission’s selection, stating that it will help scientists better understand both nearby and distant galaxies, as well as follow up on dynamic events in the ever-changing universe.
The $300 million mission will be led by Caltech astronomer Fiona Harrison, who also served as the principal investigator on the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) Small Explorer mission that launched in 2012. UVEX’s partners include the University of California at Berkeley, Northrop Grumman, and Space Dynamics Laboratory.
Initially, NASA had stated that UVEX would launch in 2028 when it selected UVEX and another proposal called the Survey and Time-domain Astrophysical Research Explorer (STAR-X) mission for further study in August 2022. However, the recent budget challenges have pushed back the launch to 2030.
NASA spokesperson Alise Fisher explained that the two-year delay is a result of budget issues within NASA’s broader astrophysics program. The extended phase B of UVEX’s development will allow NASA to prioritize missions already in progress while still supporting the innovative UVEX concept.
This delay was anticipated by Paul Hertz, the former director of NASA’s astrophysics division, who warned about reduced budgets projected for fiscal year 2023. Hertz suggested that the mission spend more time in Phase B to slow its spending ramp-up and delay its launch.
In addition to UVEX, NASA selected two other projects as missions of opportunity: Moon Burst Energetics All-sky Monitor (MoonBEAM) and A Large Area burst Polarimeter (LEAP). These missions, which involve flying payloads on other spacecraft or the International Space Station, were intended to be less expensive alternatives. However, due to budget pressures, NASA decided not to select either mission for development.
NASA officials have been vocal about the budget challenges facing the agency, including its astrophysics programs. Mark Clampin, the current director of NASA’s astrophysics division, mentioned in October that cuts in the budgets for the Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-Ray Observatory were being considered in response to funding levels for fiscal year 2024.
Despite these challenges, Clampin assured that NASA’s astrophysics division is still well-funded and has numerous ongoing missions and programs. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing missions in their prime operations phases and protecting astrophysics research and analysis grants.
In conclusion, while NASA has selected the Ultraviolet Explorer spacecraft for development as its next astrophysics mission, budget challenges have led to a two-year delay in its launch. This delay is a result of the constrained and uncertain budgetary environment within NASA’s astrophysics program. However, NASA remains committed to maintaining a balanced portfolio across astrophysics and ensuring the success of both current and future missions.