The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) is a large space telescope designed to study the universe in infrared light. It will be able to detect faint objects and measure their properties with great precision. WFIRST will also search for planets beyond our solar system, including Earth-sized worlds that could potentially support life.
WFIRST is a joint project of NASA and the US Department of Energy. The telescope is currently in development, with launch planned for the mid-2020s.
WFIRST will have a wide field of view – 100 times larger than that of the Hubble Space Telescope. This will allow it to survey large areas of the sky quickly and efficiently. The telescope will also have very sensitive detectors, capable of detecting extremely faint objects.
One of the key science goals of WFIRST is to study dark energy – the mysterious force that is causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate. By measuring the distances to galaxies over time, WFIRST will help us understand what dark energy is and how it affects the universe on cosmological scales.
In addition to its scientific objectives, WFIRST will also be used for technology demonstration and risk reduction for future missions. The telescope’s advanced optical design and infrared detectors could pave the way for future flagship space telescopes like NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).