PRIMA Site Visit

PRIMA Site Visit and Success of the PRIMAger Project in CNES Phase A Review

PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics) is a NASA astrophysics probe project selected for Phase Aunder the APEX (Astrophysics Probe Explorer) call for proposals.

It is a far-infrared space observatory designed to understand the origin of planetary atmospheres and the evolution of galactic ecosystems.

The project involves French laboratories (LAM, CEA/DSBT, CEA/AIM), as well as SRON (Netherlands), Cardiff University, and UKSA (United Kingdom), with support from CNES.

Project Updates: A 2026 Full of Events

After two rehearsals, the NASA selection committee visit took place at JPL on May 13, 2026, with the participation of LAM. The process, still ongoing, will conclude with a presentation by the Principal Investigator (PI) at the end of July. Then, all that will be left is to await the selection verdict!

In parallel, PRIMAger, the European instrument of PRIMA, successfully completed its Phase A final review at CNES in Toulouse on June 2–3, 2026. LAM is currently preparing responses to the JPL-CNES review committee, hoping for a positive closure of this phase in early September and the start of Phase B following the selection.

Laure Ciesla, Anne Costille, and Denis Burgarella, representing LAM, along with members of the PRIMAger team from CEA, SRON, and CNES.