{"682747":{"#nid":"682747","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Hosts Kickoff for Space-Bound Black Hole Imaging Mission","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EA new mission strives to take black hole imaging to space. Scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and 12 universities from around the world recently convened for a three-day workshop to plan the launch of the Space-based Precision Millimeter Interferometry Telescope (SPRITE) project. The proposed NASA Medium-Class Explorer mission aims to revolutionize the understanding of black holes through space-based imaging.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom Earth to orbit: The next step\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESPRITE builds on the groundbreaking achievements of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a network of ground-based telescopes able to synchronize observations from around the globe. EHT is most well-known for capturing the first images of black holes, M87* and\u0026nbsp;Sagittarius A*.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe\u2019ve done what we can from the ground; we\u2019ve run out of Earth,\u201d says Professor and Chair of the School of Physics\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ozelgroup.physics.gatech.edu\/feryal-ozel-2\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFeryal\u0026nbsp;\u00d6zel\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, SPRITE\u2019s principal investigator and a well-known astrophysicist instrumental in EHT\u2019s success and development. \u201cSPRITE will send two telescopes into orbit\u0026nbsp;\u2013\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eachieving better imaging than a dozen telescopes on the ground.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBy sending the telescopes into space, the mission will be able to overcome the limitations of Earth\u2019s atmosphere, which blocks certain wavelengths of light and produces turbulence that can degrade image quality. Unlike Earth-based telescopes, which rely on the planet\u2019s rotation to change viewing angles, SPRITE\u2019s telescopes will rotate independently across the vastness of space with data continuously transmitted from the satellites to ground stations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI like to think of it as an MRI machine rotating around a patient,\u201d explains\u0026nbsp;\u00d6zel. \u201cIn space, our telescopes can perform this orbital dance from great distances \u2013 giving us multiple perspectives of a black hole and allowing us to build a much more complete image.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMission goals\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESPRITE\u2019s objectives are ambitious and far-reaching, specifically to:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ECreate more images of previously unseen black holes at resolutions better than M87* and\u0026nbsp;Sagittarius A*;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EConfirm the presence of binary black holes through visual imagery; and\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EStudy the hot gas dynamics around black holes.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThis class of mission requires a three-year operational lifetime to achieve its main science goals \u2013\u0026nbsp;although planners estimate the project will be able to operate considerably longer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPreparing for launch\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESPRITE is being organized to reflect Georgia Tech\u2019s commitment to advancing space science through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, and will work closely with the Institute\u2019s new\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Space Research Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E. Locating SPRITE at Georgia Tech allows the mission to benefit from the knowledge of leading experts from the Colleges of Sciences, Engineering, and Computing; and GTRI.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe recent kickoff meeting marked SPRITE\u2019s first large-scale gathering of contributors from around the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe had smaller meetings before, but this was the first time the full team came together to share expertise and collaboratively shape the mission,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u00d6zel. \u201cMost importantly, this meeting showed us that we have a strong scientific case for our mission and its design.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOver the next two to three years, the team will work to validate key technologies and prepare a compelling proposal for NASA. If selected, SPRITE is expected to launch in the mid-2030s, marking the beginning of a new era in space imaging.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is leading a revolutionary NASA mission to image black holes from space, overcoming the limits of Earth-based telescopes. With twin orbiting instruments, the SPRITE project could unlock unprecedented views of the universe\u2019s most mysterious objects.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A bold space mission led by Georgia Tech and NASA aims to capture the most detailed images of black holes yet by launching twin telescopes into orbit."}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2025-06-10 17:49:29","changed_gmt":"2025-06-23 15:17:07","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-06-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-06-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677207":{"id":"677207","type":"image","title":"The kickoff meeting marked the first time that a large group of team members came together in person. Team members shared what they will bring to the mission and spent time refining the goals and requirements of the mission.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe kickoff meeting marked the first time that a large group of team members came together in person. Team members shared what they will bring to the mission and spent time refining the goals and requirements of the mission.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1749577890","gmt_created":"2025-06-10 17:51:30","changed":"1749577890","gmt_changed":"2025-06-10 17:51:30","alt":"Image of classroom with woman pointing at a screen with full class in front of her.","file":{"fid":"261082","name":"image001.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/10\/image001.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/10\/image001.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5455149,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/10\/image001.jpg?itok=t-ZoOVMW"}},"677208":{"id":"677208","type":"image","title":"Feryal \u00d6zel,","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ozelgroup.physics.gatech.edu\/feryal-ozel-2\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFeryal\u0026nbsp;\u00d6zel\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1749578521","gmt_created":"2025-06-10 18:02:01","changed":"1749578521","gmt_changed":"2025-06-10 18:02:01","alt":"Headshot of woman wearing a blue scarf","file":{"fid":"261083","name":"Ozel.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/10\/Ozel.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/10\/Ozel.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":17292,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/10\/Ozel.jpg?itok=NJn7Wu04"}}},"media_ids":["677207","677208"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/01\/18\/m87-one-year-later-proof-persistent-black-hole-shadow","title":"M87* One Year Later: Proof of a Persistent Black Hole Shadow"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"10881","name":"black holes"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"192387","name":"M87"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaura S. Smith, writer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}