Astronomy & Telescopes

Keck Strategic Mission Support Programs (KSMS) and Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) Technology Maturation Program Deferred to 2026B

By Keith Cowing

Press Release

August 25, 2025

Filed under astronomy, exoplanet, Habitable Worlds Observatory, Habitable Zone, imaging, Keck II telescope, Keck Planet Finder, NASA, NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI)

Keck Strategic Mission Support Programs (KSMS) and Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) Technology Maturation Program Deferred to 2026B — NASA Exoplanet Science Institute

To the NASA Keck Observer Community: Due to several issues, including the six-week closure of the Keck II telescope and instrument calibration problems with the Keck Planet Finder, it has not been possible for the existing suite of Keck Strategic Mission Support programs (KSMS) and the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) Technology Maturation Program to complete their observations.

Accordingly, with the concurrence of NASA Headquarters and the HWO project, NExScI is announcing the deferral of the solicitation for new KSMS and HWO Technology proposals from 2026A to 2026B. This delay will allow the existing projects to receive the additional telescope time needed to complete their programs.

We apologize for this delay and look forward to releasing new solicitations for KSMS and HWO Technology programs for 2026B. The NASA Keck Call for Proposals has been modified accordingly.

Sincerely yours,
Dr. Charles Beichman
Director, NASA Exoplanet Science Institute
JPL/California Institute of Technology
[email protected]

Astrobiology,

Keith Cowing

Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Station Payload manager/space biologist, Away Teams, Journalist, Lapsed climber, Synaesthete, Na’Vi-Jedi-Freman-Buddhist-mix, ASL, Devon Island and Everest Base Camp veteran, (he/him) 🖖🏻

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