The Israeli space telescope ULTRASAT will be launched in 2026 in collaboration with NASA. The telescope will help to observe the secrets of short planetary phenomena, such as neutron star mergers and supernovae.
Israel’s first telescope project will soon take flight with NASA’s support. In early 2026, the ULTRASAT, also known as the UV Transient Astronomy Satellite will be launched into geostationary orbit.
Dr. Mark Clampin, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, commented, “We are thrilled to join this alliance.” The international collaboration will help us better to understand the secrets of the hot fleeting cosmos. Although, in the young field of time domain and multimessenger astrophysics programs, the ULTRASAT space telescope will provide the worldwide science community with another significant capability for making new observations.
The ULTRASTAT Space Telescope
The UV observatory ULTRASAT has a wide field of view. However, its goal is to detect transient space phenomena, including supernovae and neutron star mergers. Due to its wide field of vision, ULTRASAT can quickly find and collect ultraviolet light from such sources.
Uri Oron, Direct General of the Israel Space Agency at the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, maintained that groundbreaking science requires cutting-edge technology. However, the ULTRASAT includes a broad field of vision that will increase ultraviolet sensitivity and real-time data control and transfer. The space telescope is an example of cutting-edge technological advancements. The space sector in Israel will be capable of providing extraordinary services. The scientist said that the collaboration between the Israel Space Agency and NASA is a concrete illustration of the two organizational close working relationships. However, an Israeli space agency spokesperson said they are proud of its technological contribution to the telescope’s establishment.
The launch opportunity
NASA will provide Flight Payload Adapter and assist in other launch-related duties for the successful take-off of ULTRASTAT. The telescope will be prepared by the Israel Space Agency and delivered to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for launch. According to the Weizmann Institute of Science, the mission’s success will open the way for Israel’s further space initiatives and demonstrate the capability to make scientific breakthroughs using small and inexpensive satellites.
The cutting-edge astrophysics study is the time domain astronomy (TDA) and gravitational wave astronomy (GW). The international community is preparing and conducting new surveys over the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio to X-rays. However, the absence of the Ultra-Violet (UV) band is significant.
This time-lapse video of snapshots from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope shows the fading light of a supernova called SN 2018gv. ULTRASAT will observe not only the late fading but also the early brightening of such cosmic explosions.
Capturing early UV light supernovae
The scientist commented that ULTRASAT would conduct the first wide-field UV time-domain survey. It will have a higher finding rate than ever before and explore a new parameter space in terms of near UV rays. It will also offer continuous NUV light bends for warmer objects to determine spacial time domain surveys at longer wavelengths. In addition to the main project objectives, it will offer continuous NUV light bends and variable stars, hundreds of supernovae, thousands of active galactic nuclei, and hundreds of tidal disruptions of stars by supermassive black holes. With the help of the current telescope, The entire world will be given quick transient alerts.
With the help of explosion parameters, It will also measure the radii and surface of typical supernovae. Nevertheless, it will be possible to see how the population of massive stars affects its surroundings through mass loss and explosion by connecting the pre-explosion stars with their various explosive output. This will help to define the beginning circumstances for explosion models.