On February 21, the Israel Space Agency (ISA) and the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS) announced that Israel’s first space telescope will be launched into space in 2026.
NASA will be responsible for launching Israel’s first space telescope into orbit.
According to the plan, the telescope named ULTRASAT is scheduled to be launched into low Earth orbit in early 2026, as part of a newly signed partnership agreement between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Israeli Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology. NASA will handle the launch.
In a joint announcement, ISA and WIS stated that the project is expected to enable scientists to achieve breakthroughs in detecting and analyzing numerous transient astronomical events, such as the formation of neutron stars and supernova explosions.
The telescope features an unprecedented wide field of view (204 square degrees), allowing scientists to explore the universe with a volume outside of the Milky Way that is 100 times greater than that of ground-based observatories. This instrument will also enable measurements of ultraviolet light, which cannot be measured from Earth, and provide the scientific community with real-time alerts about transient events.
According to the announcement, with these capabilities, Israel’s telescope will allow for deeper observations of the universe, clarifying fundamental questions such as the origins of heavy chemical elements in nature and the effects of massive black holes on their environments. This will enhance research on a variety of astronomical topics, including supernovae, variable stars, active galaxies, and the origins of gravitational waves.
