Astronomers scramble to save world’s most powerful X-ray space telescope

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the mission has released 25 views of cosmic objects ranging from supernova remnants to galaxy clusters and more.

NASA/SAO/CXC

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NASA/SAO/CXC

The most powerful X-ray telescope ever built has celebrated its 25th anniversary in space, but on Earth, astronomers fear its future is very uncertain.

Supporters of the Chandra X-ray observatory say the school-bus-sized instrument is healthy and could continue doing science for another decade, but NASA recently announced a plan to cut its funding and end the mission.

The agency’s astrophysics director, Mark Clampin, said officials were facing a difficult budget situation and tough choices had to be made to free up money to develop future telescopes, such as one that will search for habitable planets that could support life.

The Chandra X-ray Observatory before its launch into orbit in 1999 on a NASA space shuttle.

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NASA

But many astronomers can’t imagine unplugging Chandra, a one-of-a-kind instrument that is currently being used in tandem with the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope to make important discoveries.

“Chandra recently collaborated with the James Webb telescope to discover this supermassive black hole at the edge of the universe. It was the oldest and most distant black hole ever discovered,” says David Pooley of Trinity University, an astronomer who has been using Chandra since it was launched into orbit aboard a space shuttle in 1999.

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X-rays offer a way to study some of the most exotic phenomena in the universe because they are generated during extreme cosmic events that heat matter up to millions of degrees. They can only be observed from space, rather than by Earth-based telescopes, because incoming X-rays are absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere.

Pooley says there is no other telescope like Chandra and its loss would be a major blow.

“Its ability to detect distant objects is unmatched by any other X-ray telescope ever built or that will be built and in operation—for at least a decade, if not two decades,” Pooley said. “Closing this great observatory for a relatively small cost savings would seriously undermine U.S. leadership in this field.”

Artist's impression of the Chandra X-ray Observatory in space.

Artist’s impression of the Chandra X-ray Observatory in space.

NASA/CXC and J. Vaughan

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NASA/CXC and J. Vaughan

NASA’s planned budget cuts would soon require the layoff of much of the staff that operates the telescope, meaning dozens of astronomers would be looking for work, according to a lobbying campaign that has emerged to try to reverse the decision.

According to astronomer Grant Tremblay, the layoffs are expected to be announced in August, with staff expected to leave by October.

“Most of them have families, children in school, roots planted, and so a large number of them will be forced to abandon astronomy,” he noted in a message on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

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Pooley says everyone understands the budget constraints, but he disagrees with the idea of getting rid of a productive tool that’s already in use in favor of “something that’s going to be available in 20 years. I don’t think that’s a very good use of taxpayer money.”

Chandra experts like Paul Levitt took to social media to express their displeasure.

The scientists also appealed to members of Congress such as Seth Moulton, a Democratic U.S. representative from Massachusetts, where the telescope’s operations center is located.

“I listen to the 700-plus astronomers who signed a letter saying, ‘This work is important. It needs to continue,'” Moulton told NPR. “I really think it’s up to those of us in Congress to try to find the money to make sure that happens.”

Meanwhile, Tuesday, a meeting of the agency’s astrophysics advisory board will consider Chandra’s future. Part of the discussion will focus on the results of a study NASA launched to determine how well that telescope, along with the aging Hubble telescope, could be operated on a reduced budget.

“NASA will share its decisions, taking into account the findings of the review, at a virtual public meeting in the coming weeks,” a NASA spokesperson told NPR via email.