A survey done by a U.S. has shown us that searching for extra-terrestrial life has become the topmost priority of astronomers for the next 10 years.
Recently, astronomers have stressed upon the necessity for the hunt for potentially habitable planets that are circling other starts in the galaxy. The goal of this task is to find out any Earth-like worlds that might exist in the galaxy.
Exploring the origins and evolution of black holes is another main motto of astronomers.
The astronomers have also stressed upon the need for greater diversity among astronomer’s position, as this field is a male dominated field.
The report has also suggested NASA to create a new office as to observe space observatories and those missions that are overlapping in the upcoming time. The report states that NASA should also built a telescope which needs to significantly bigger than Hubble Space Telescope. The new telescope should be able to spot planets which are10 billion times dimmed than their stars. The report states that this telescope should be ready by the 2040s for around $11 billion.
The report has also emphasized upon smaller and modest missions as well. It has mentioned of launching one spacecraft per decade which will cost $1.5 billion per spacecraft.
But there are chances that these expenses will delay major projects. NASA-led James Webb Space Telescope that scan the early universe and explore the atmospheres of other worlds, is a vital example of that.
NASA has also stated that this survey has done during the world health crisis of Covid-19, which has underscored the importance of science in our daily lives.
The final statement of the report of the survey was to add more diversity to its upper levels and to consider the diversity while they are planning the funding for a new project.
