Hosts: NASA and the University of Maryland, Aerospace Engineering Department	Date: Aug 7-8, 2024
Location: University of Maryland, Iribe Center, Antonov Auditorium	Format: Hybrid (In-person and Remote Participation)

The August 2024 workshop on Pioneering Sustainable Observatories successfully brought together NASA, industry leaders, and the scientific community to discuss the possibility of designing the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) for serviceability.  Recommended by the National Academies’ report, “Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s”. HWO will be the first space telescope designed specifically to search for signs of habitability and life on planets orbiting other stars. Over the course of two days, participants of this workshop explored accomplishments in in-space servicing and engaged in discussions on how these capabilities could offer a programmatic structure that further enables HWO’s scientific benefits.  The agenda included an introduction to the conceptional architecture cases for HWO, insights from servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, and Snap Talks from the government and private sector on the current state of the art in servicing concepts that could be applicable to HWO.  A highlight of the workshop was the student poster challenge, showcasing innovative and inspiring ideas.

Through vibrant discussions and presentations, the workshop fostered collaboration between NASA, the commercial servicing community, and the broader HWO working groups. These conversations are already shaping the trade space for the HWO mission, further solidifying NASA’s plans for HWO and future sustainable observatories.  The event underscored the exciting possibilities ahead, inspiring attendees to contribute to this transformative vision for space science.

Recorded Presentations

Recordings of all presentations from both days are available online for your review : Day One | Day Two

Virtual Community Bulletin Board

As part of the Pioneering Sustainable Observatories workshop, participants were invited to share their “Vision for How Habitable Worlds Observatory will be Serviced.” Each virtual note on this board captures a unique perspective—from engineers, scientists, industry experts, and students—on how servicing could enable the future of space observatories. We encourage you to browse these contributions, reflect on the ideas shared, and be inspired to shape the future of the Habitable Worlds Observatory.

Explore the Community Vision Board