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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

PRIMA has been selected as NASA's first Probe Explorer mission! www.nasa.gov/news-release...

Rendering of PRIMA spacecraft against astronomical nebula background

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

PRIMA will fill an essential gap between ALMA and JWST for understanding disk structure and dissipation

PRIMA will combine with other observatories to better understand protoplanetary disks

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Understanding the radiation environment in disks and its role in their evaporation is key to understanding disk evolution. PRIMA will provide essential information on high-energy radiation through multiple lines like OI, greatly expanding on samples of a few lines measured with Herschel

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Next up at #PRIMA2025 is BU prof @catherineespaillat.bsky.social talking about how PRIMA can fill in the gaps in our understanding of protoplanetary disk evolution

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

However, the sample of edge-on disks available for these studies is limited and intrinsically biased. Far-IR observations, which are not restricted to edge-on disks, offer a unique path to a gaining complete understanding of the demographics of icy disks.

A rich spectrum of ice features in the wavelength range of PRIMA

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

The shape of these protostellar disk ice spectra can yield detailed information about the quantity of ice and its chemical composition and environment.

Spectra of disk ice features for two different ice models, showing changes in the shape of the spectra

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

ALMA is making great progress characterizing the dust grain content, but we are currently missing a way to characterize the icy component of disks, which carries the bulk of planet-forming materials, including key ingredients like volatiles and prebiotic molecules

ALMA MAPS data: images of dust and gas in disks

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

A great afternoon of talks at #PRIMA2025 kicking off with Berkeley prof Jenny Bergner giving us an exciting sneak peek into what PRIMA can do for studies of planet formation

Title slide from Jenny Bergner's talk on disk ices

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

As always, we want YOU! There are many, many ways to get involved, and we want to hear your voice! Contact us directly at our new e-mail prima.questions@jpl.nasa.gov

Ways to get involved with PRIMA:see https://prima.ipac.caltech.edu/

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

PRIMA's capabilities are defined by a PI science program, but they are ultimately designed to deliver a powerful and flexible community resource, with 75% of PRIMA's observing time (~32,000 hours over 5 years) open to astronomers everywhere

PRIMA is designed to be a community resource. You can help make it a reality by contributing to PRIMA's GO science book.

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Decades of NASA investment have enabled this enormous technological leap forward, yielding an orders of magnitudes increase in observing capabilities in the far-infrared that is equivalent to observing at optical wavelengths at night vs. day

PRIMA's orders of magnitude sensitivity increase compared to prior missions

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Next, deputy science lead Tiffany Kataria is presenting the science enabled by PRIMA

An overview of the PRIMA mission concept

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

PRIMA PI Jason Glenn leading off with an overview, showing the timeline for the genesis of the technology and science that has led to the development of the current probe concept

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

PRIMA will absolutely boop those lil' red dots #NASAWebb is finding

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Talk slides and recording from today's P-CAST talk (Jason Glen giving an overview of the PRIMA concept) will be posted on our webpage! prima.ipac.caltech.edu/page/p-cast

PRIMA Overview: a FIR space probe observatory concept with a 1.8 m actively-cooled mirror and 75% of its time open for community science

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PRIMA probe @prima-probe.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Check out our Winter 2025 newsletter for all the latest PRIMA news and events! Lots of upcoming workshops, conferences, and opportunities to get involved! prima.ipac.caltech.edu/page/newslet...

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