New Private Telescope, Mauve, to Pioneer Ultraviolet star Research with Budget-Friendly Approach
PARIS – A new privately funded space telescope, dubbed Mauve, is poised to revitalize ultraviolet (UV) observation of stars, a field largely untouched sence the 1990s. Developed with a budget approximately 100 times smaller than NASA’s flagship missions, Mauve aims to assess the habitability of exoplanets by analyzing UV emissions from their host stars.
The telescope will focus on determining whether stellar radiation levels could sterilize orbiting planets.Unlike our Sun,which is relatively calm,many stars emit intense UV radiation capable of stripping atmospheres and damaging DNA,effectively eliminating the possibility of life. Mauve will analyze hundreds of stars to identify those with environments potentially conducive to life.
UV observation has been limited in recent decades. while the Hubble Space Telescope can observe in UV, it’s not its primary function, and it launched in 1990. The James Webb Space Telescope focuses on infrared light. The last dedicated UV telescope, the International ultraviolet Explorer (IUE), operated from 1978 to 1996.
mauve represents a “modern, fast and modular approach” to UV astronomy, reviving a crucial area of research often overlooked.
Beyond its scientific goals, Mauve is pioneering a new economic model for space research. rather of relying on government funding, data access will be offered through a subscription service, allowing universities and laboratories worldwide to rent observation time. This aims to foster “more open and collaborative space research with controlled costs,” making space-based observation more accessible.
