Special 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).

Time	Topic	Speaker
10:20am ‑ 10:30am	Spatially Resolved UV Spectroscopy Science Analysis Group in Support of HWO	Emily Witt (JHU)
10:30am ‑ 10:40am	Investigating the NIR Discovery Space of the Habitable Worlds Observatory: Updates from the Red Limit Science Analysis Group	Kyle Cooke (University of Louisville)
10:40am ‑ 10:50am	Opening the OVI Window to Reveal the Diffuse Cosmic Ecosystem with HWO	Sanchayeeta Borthakur (Arizona State University)
11:00am ‑ 11:10am	HWO Science Interest Group: Keeping the Community Connected to HWO	Jessie Christiansen (Caltech/IPAC)

Agenda

Organizers: Swara Ravindranath (NASA/GSFC), Emily Witt (JHU)

Time	Topic	Speaker
10:00am ‑ 10:05am	Welcome	Swara Ravindranath (NASA/GSFC)
10:05am ‑ 10:15am	FORTIS Sounding Rocket	Emily Witt (JHU)
10:15am ‑ 10:25am	BlackCAT CubeSat	Abe Falcone (Pennsylvania State University)
10:25am ‑ 10:35am	SunRISE CubeSat Constellation	Joseph Lazio (University of Michigan)
10:35am ‑ 10:45am	SPHEREx Medium Explorer Mission	Roberta Paladini (IPAC/Caltech)
10:45am ‑ 10:55am	Landolt Pioneer Mission	Peter Kurczynski (NASA/GSFC)
10:55am ‑ 11:05am	Non-Traditional Path to Missions	Sanchayeeta Borthakur (Arizona State University)
11:05am ‑ 11:10am	BREAK
11:10am ‑ 11:30am	Panel Discussion	Swara 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

Time	Topic	Speaker
10:00am - 10:10am	Introduction from the NASA Astrophysics Division Director	Shawn Domagal‑Goldman (NASA HQ)
10:10am - 10:25am	The ASTRA Initiative: Overview& Path Forward	Jessica Gaskin (NASA HQ)
10:25am - 10:40am	Innovation for Astrophysics Workshop: Initial Findings	Kendra Short (JPL)
10:40am -10:55am	Ad ASTRA Community Science Workshop	Peter Kurczynski (NASA/GSFC)
10:55am - 11:30am	Panel Discussion	Francesca 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