Author: Sonia Lizarbe Sánchez

Complutense University professor and AEGORA researcher, Ada Canet, has received a Fulbright postdoctoral fellowship to join the Department of Physics at the University of Texas at Austin. As part of this world-renowned program, Canet will advance her research on astrophysical plasmas. Her study examines the relationship between terrestrial planets and their host stars, seeking to determine whether these far-off worlds could support life.

The Spanish working group of the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), a joint mission by ESA and NASA, has taken a decisive step in its participation. During a meeting held on May 27th and 28th at the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), the community formalized its support for the development of three cutting-edge scientific instruments.

The HWO’s primary goal is the search for life on Earth-like planets. To
achieve this, the mission features a high-contrast coronagraph that will
allow scientists to study directly the atmospheres of potentially
habitable planets.

In this context, the Spanish group proposal focuses on three key technologies:

• Multipurpose Spectropolarimeter: Designed for detailed studies of the Solar System, extrasolar planets, and massive stars.
• Multi-Object Spectrograph (MOS) with an Integral Field Unit (IFU): Capable of capturing both images and spectra of extended objects, such as nebulae or comets.
• High-Resolution Camera: Equipped with narrow, medium, and broadband filters for the precise observation of objects both within and outside our galaxy.

This endorsement solidifies the position of Spanish astrophysics in one of the most ambitious missions of the coming decades, ensuring that national technology plays a vital role in the discovery of life beyond our Solar System.

On May 27-28, 2026, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) will host the Spanish working group meeting for NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO).

This hybrid event aims to establish a national science and instrumentation consortium to drive Spain’s involvement in NASA’s next flagship mission. The meeting will feature experts from NASA and European research teams to define the mission’s roadmap and technical contributions.

More information and registration here

On the occasion of the recent Artemis II mission, our Director appeared on the news broadcast to highlight the significance of space missions for the daily lives of citizens. She noted: “We are sometimes oblivious to the fact that many discoveries driven by space exploration have reshaped our existence on Earth.”

Emphasizing that we inhabit a “space age,” she warned that a total satellite failure would have immediate consequences: “Planes would have to land, ships would lose their navigational accuracy, and mobile networks would experience severe malfunctions.”

The III Virtual Congress of The Latin Lunar Lobby is taking place from January 20 to 22, 2026 aimed at gathering and discussing potential science cases and observational programs that will shape the mission’s scientific legacy.

The Ultraviolet Lunar Observatory (OUL) , operating from a privileged orbit around the Moon and designed to explore the ultraviolet sky, will open new avenues for the study of the lunar surface, the Earth’s exosphere, as well as small bodies and the heliosphere.

Go to workshop page