Cosmic OriginsSpecial Session: Everything but Exoplanets: The Transformative General Astrophysics of the Habitable Worlds Observatory
Monday, June 15th, 1:00pm – 2:30pm ET, 10:00am -11:30am PT
Highlights from Cosmic Origins Science Interest Groups (SIGs) and Science Analysis Groups (SAGs).
TimeTopicSpeaker10:20am ‑ 10:30amSpatially Resolved UV Spectroscopy Science Analysis Group in Support of HWOEmily Witt (JHU)10:30am ‑ 10:40amInvestigating the NIR Discovery Space of the Habitable Worlds Observatory: Updates from the Red Limit Science Analysis GroupKyle Cooke (University of Louisville)10:40am ‑ 10:50amOpening the OVI Window to Reveal the Diffuse Cosmic Ecosystem with HWOSanchayeeta Borthakur (Arizona State University)11:00am ‑ 11:10amHWO Science Interest Group: Keeping the Community Connected to HWOJessie Christiansen (Caltech/IPAC)
Splinter Session: NASA’s Big Science, Small Missions
Tuesday, June 16th, 1:00pm – 2:30pm ET, 10:00am -11:30am PT (Hybrid Session)
For remote participation, please look for the “Join the Session” link above the agenda on the Cosmic Origins at AAS website.
Agenda
Organizers: Swara Ravindranath (NASA/GSFC), Emily Witt (JHU)
TimeTopicSpeaker10:00am ‑ 10:05amWelcomeSwara Ravindranath (NASA/GSFC)10:05am ‑ 10:15amFORTIS Sounding RocketEmily Witt (JHU)10:15am ‑ 10:25amBlackCAT CubeSatAbe Falcone (Pennsylvania State University)10:25am ‑ 10:35amSunRISE CubeSat ConstellationJoseph Lazio (University of Michigan)10:35am ‑ 10:45amSPHEREx Medium Explorer MissionRoberta Paladini (IPAC/Caltech)10:45am ‑ 10:55am Landolt Pioneer MissionPeter Kurczynski (NASA/GSFC)10:55am ‑ 11:05amNon-Traditional Path to MissionsSanchayeeta Borthakur (Arizona State University)11:05am ‑ 11:10amBREAK11:10am ‑ 11:30amPanel DiscussionSwara Ravindranath (NASA/GSFC, moderator) Panelists: Drew Miles (Caltech), Pablo Saz Parkinson (NASA HQ), Joseph Lazio (University of Michigan), Abe Falcone (Pennsylvania State University), David Ardila (JPL)
Special Session: Planning for the Future of Astrophysics and the ASTRA Initiative
Thursday, June 18th, 1:00pm – 2:30pm ET, 10:00am -11:30am PT
No remote participation is available for this special session.
Agenda
TimeTopicSpeaker10:00am ‑ 10:10amIntroduction from the NASA Astrophysics Division DirectorShawn Domagal‑Goldman(NASA HQ)10:10am ‑ 10:25amThe ASTRA Initiative: Overview& Path ForwardJessica Gaskin (NASA HQ)10:25am ‑ 10:40amInnovation for Astrophysics Workshop: Initial FindingsKendra Short (JPL)10:40am ‑ 10:55amAd ASTRA Community Science WorkshopPeter Kurczynski (NASA/GSFC)10:55am ‑ 11:30amPanel DiscussionFrancesca Civano (NASA/GSFC)
ASTRA Office Hours at Cosmic Origins Exhibit Booth
(June 15 – 17, 2026) at 9am PT
Stop by the AAS / Cosmic Origins Exhibit booth during these times to ask questions about the ASTRA initiative, the September Ad ASTRA workshop, and developing new strategic mission concepts for astrophysics. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 9 am PT (Peter Kurczynski)
Best regards,Swara Ravindranath
American Astronomical Society
The 248th Meeting of the AAS
The 248th AAS meeting (joint with the High Energy Astrophysics and the Laboratory Astrophysics Divisions) will be held 14-18 June 2026 in Pasadena, California.
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