On September 23rd, NASA announced its first selection in a new class of astrophysics missions called Probe Explorers. As part of its commitment to studying the history and evolution of the Universe, NASA's proposed PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA) has advanced to the next phase of development. This mission and the new program will operate within the agency’s Explorers Program, the oldest continuous NASA program specializing in astrophysics and heliophysics missions.
The new mission class was established based on the recommendations of the NASEM 2020 Decadal Survey, titled "Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s" (Astro2020). NASA selected PRIMA for development after a detailed evaluation of concept studies, based on alignment with the Decadal Survey's science goals, cost and schedule, and the use of technologies that could support future larger missions.
