Celtic Terahertz Technology

GO PRIMA ! or as we say in Cardiff EWCH PRIMA

CTT joins a global collaboration of institutions working on a project now selected by NASA for a pioneering billion-dollar space telescope mission to explore the history and evolution of the universe. The mission - known as PRIMA (Probe Mission for Far-Infrared Astrophysics) - will use a telescope with a cooled 1.8 metre diameter primary mirror to collect faint signals at Far-infrared wavelengths to reveal parts of the universe that are impossible to observe with other telescopes.

Here is the NASA announcement in full.

The selection of PRIMA, which is scheduled to launch around 2033, marks a major milestone for the global astronomical community and builds on more than four decades of UK involvement in pioneering Far-infrared space astronomy. The UK's contributions to PRIMA draw upon expertise developed through a succession of world-leading space missions stretching back to the 1980s, including IRAS, ISO, Spitzer, AKARI and, most notably, Herschel.

Supported by the UK Space Agency, the UK's PRIMA team brings together expertise from the University of Sussex, Cardiff University, Imperial College London, RAL Space and Celtic Terahertz Technology. Here is what the scientists at Cardiff had to say.

CTT is designing and providing the sophisticated system of Far-infrared filters that are essential for the instruments on PRIMA to do their intended work. Our CEO, Professor Carole Tucker said, "We are excited to be working once again alongside our colleagues at Cardiff University in this large international consortium. PRIMA represents a significant technical challenge which we relish, and it will be a revolutionary scientific endeavour."