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Keck Deferrals to 2026B

4 September 2025

Keck KSMS and HWO Deferral to 2026B

Due to several issues, including the six-week closure of the Keck II telescope and instrument calibration problems with the Keck Planet Finder, it has not been possible for the existing suite of Keck Strategic Mission Support programs (KSMS) and the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) Technology Maturation Program to complete their observations.

Keck Observatory about Keck KSMS and HWO Deferral to 2026B
At the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, NASA astronomers have linked the two 10-meter (33-foot) telescopes at the W. M. Keck Observatory. The linked telescopes, together are called the Keck Interferometer, the world's most powerful optical telescope system.
Keck Interferometer
NASA/JPL

Accordingly, with the concurrence of NASA Headquarters and the HWO project, NExScI is announcing the deferral of the solicitation for new KSMS and HWO Technology proposals from 2026A to 2026B. This delay will allow the existing projects to receive the additional telescope time needed to complete their programs.

We apologize for this delay and look forward to releasing new solicitations for KSMS and HWO Technology programs for 2026B. The NASA Keck Call for Proposals has been modified accordingly.

NASA Exoplanet Science Institute
JPL/California Institute of Technology

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An illustration of Sun-like star HD 181327 and its surrounding debris disk. The star is at top right. It is surrounded by a far larger debris disk that forms an incomplete ellpitical path and is cut off at right. There’s a huge cavity between the star and the disk. The debris disk is shown in shades of light gray. Toward the top and left, there are finer, more discrete points in a range of sizes. The disk appears hazier and smokier at the bottom. The star is bright white at center, with a hazy blue region around it. The background of space is black. The label Artist's Concept appears at lower left.