BAE Systems announced today that its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)-led PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics) team has been selected by NASA for the next phase of development in NASA’s new class of “Probe Explorers” astrophysics missions.
BAE Systems will provide its Evolve+ spacecraft bus for the mission, lead the observatory assembly, integration and test process, and serve as the operations and ground lead for NASA’s JPL, the manager of the mission.
“We are excited to continue our decades-long partnership with JPL through the PRIMA mission that will enable NASA to make significant discoveries on the history of the universe,” said Bonnie Patterson, vice president and general manager of civil space for BAE Systems. “The PRIMA mission will also help fill observation gaps with other NASA astrophysics missions, including the James Webb Space Telescope and other observatories, also supported by BAE Systems.”
NASA’s PRIMA mission will use a highly sensitive, far-infrared space telescope that is designed to see parts of the universe that are hidden by dust. Using a 1.8-meter diameter telescope, it will observe the cosmos in far-infrared light, bridging the critical observation gap between the James Webb Space Telescope and ground-based radio observatories.
The mission will help scientists learn how stars, planets, galaxies and even water formed over time. It will reveal how these cosmic structures grow and change, providing a clearer picture of how our universe developed and evolved from its formation to the present.
The PRIMA mission is currently advancing through Phase B development and is targeted for launch in 2033 for a five-year mission. Following a NASA confirmation review, the project will move toward full implementation.
BAE Systems will join numerous international space industry providers to support the PRIMA mission, including those from France, Italy, Canada, South Korea, Japan and the UK.
Through the PRIMA mission, BAE Systems continues its longstanding support of NASA’s astrophysics programs. This includes work on the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, among others.
Ref: 133/2026