NASA systems engineering team details HWO mission architecture

NASA and JPL engineers outlined three architecture options for the Habitable Worlds Observatory: a 6 m inscribed / 7.2 m circumscribed off-axis design, a 6 m round off-axis design and an 8 m outer-diameter on-axis design. The team favored the off-axis layout and a larger aperture for direct imaging of Earth-like exoplanets. Launch is not expected before the 2040s.

• EAC1: 6 m inscribed / 7.2 m circumscribed mirror, off-axis design
• EAC2: 6 m round mirror, off-axis design
• EAC3: 8 m outer-diameter mirror, on-axis design
• Off-axis design and larger aperture favored for light gathering