$100M Satellite To Study Star Explosions

By Ariel Grossman, NoCamels February 22, 2023 2 minutes

An illustration of the ULTRASAT satellite. Courtesy Weizmann Institute of Science

Israel is launching a satellite to study fast-paced events of the universe, like the explosions of stars that take place for mere seconds.

The $100M ULTRASAT (Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite) will revolutionize scientists’ ability to analyze supernova explosions, neutron star mergers, and other events in space.

It will carry a telescope with a field of view that is 100 times greater than that of the observatories on Earth.

The satellite will also provide scientists with real-time alerts on space phenomena by monitoring ultraviolet light that cannot be measured from Earth.

It will be delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, USA, in 2026 to be launched by NASA. It will orbit in space for three years.

The combination of the satellite’s unique capabilities will let scientists observe the universe as never before, enhance research on astronomical subjects, and shed light on questions like the impact of black holes, or the origin of heavy elements in nature.

Compared with other satellites, the ULTRASAT is relatively affordable, at $100 million including launch. The Weizmann Institute of Science hopes that the mission will prove that breakthrough science can be achieved by “affordable” small satellites.

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The ULTRASAT is being constructed by the Israeli Aerospace Industry, and the telescope is being built by Israeli defense-electronics company Elbit.

“Groundbreaking science calls for cutting-edge technology,” said Uri Oron, director of the Israel Space Agency in the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology. “Our requirements from ULTRASAT, such as a wide field of view, advanced ultraviolet sensitivity, and real-time data control and transfer are at the forefront of technological developments.

“Israel’s space industry can deliver these capabilities. The Israel Space Agency is proud of the cooperation with NASA as a direct example of the strong partnership between the agencies, and of the Israeli space industry’s technological effort involved in the development of the telescope.”

Mark Clampin, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said: “We are proud to join this partnership, an international effort that will help us better understand the mysteries of the hot, transient universe.

“ULTRASAT will give the global science community another important capability for making new observations in the nascent field of time domain and multimessenger astrophysics programs.”