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This galaxy formed as the result of a high-speed collision that occurred about 400 million years ago. The Cartwheel is composed of two rings, a bright inner ring and a colorful outer ring. Both rings expand outward from the center of the collision like shockwaves. However, despite the impact, much of the character of the large, spiral galaxy that existed before the collision remains, including its rotating arms. This leads to the “spokes” that inspired the name of the Cartwheel Galaxy, which are the bright red streaks seen between the inner and outer rings. These brilliant red hues, located not only throughout the Cartwheel, but also the companion spiral galaxy at the top left, are caused by glowing, hydrocarbon-rich dust. In this near- and mid-infrared composite image, MIRI data are colored red while NIRCam data are colored blue, orange, and yellow. Amidst the red swirls of dust, there are many individual blue dots, which represent individual stars or pockets of star formation. NIRCam also defines the difference between the older star populations and dense dust in the core and the younger star populations outside of it.

Meet the Team

The HWO project office, CSIT, and other groups will focus on several key early activities to guide the maturation of the Habitable Worlds Observatory.

Habitable Worlds Observatory Technology Maturation Project Office (HTMPO)

  • The HTMPO was established at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center on August 1st, 2024.

    The following individuals make up the project office team:
    Lee Feinberg (NASA GSFC), Principal Architect
    Scott Smith (NASA GSFC), Project Manager (interim)
    Alice Liu, (NASA GSFC), Acting Mission Systems Engineer
    Giada Arney (NASA GSFC), Project Scientist (interim)
    John Ziemer (JPL), Pre-Formulation Architect, JPL Ex-officio*
    Aki Roberge (NASA GSFC), Pre-Formulation Scientist (interim)
    Bertrand Mennesson (JPL), Pre-Formulation Scientist, JPL Ex-officio*

    Other key roles include:
    Breann Sitarski (NASA GSFC), Deputy Principal Architect, GSFC Testbed Lead
    Matt Bolcar (NASA GSFC), Chief Technologist
    Feng Zhao (JPL), Deputy Chief Technologist, JPL Ex-officio*
    Julie Van Campen (NASA GSFC), Servicing and Instrument Systems Lead
    Marie Levine (JPL), Integrated Modeling Lead, JPL Ex-officio*
    Caleb Baker (JPL), JPL Testbed Lead

    *Ex-officio is used to distinguish activities that GSFC will uniquely perform, such as contracts to industry, budgeting, and deliverable definition (e.g. activities up to Phase A).

HWO TMPO

A graphic image. In the background, you can see the edge of a planet on the background of space. It has clouds and is reflecting a bit of light. In the foreground, on the left there is a circle with an image of a man. To the right, the words "Lee Feinberg, Principal Architect, NASA GSFC."

Lee Feinberg (NASA GSFC)

Principal Architect

Scott Smith (NASA GSFC)

Project Manager (interim)

Alice Liu (NASA GSFC)

Acting Mission Systems Engineer

Giada Arney (NASA GSFC)

Project Scientist (interim)

John Ziemer (JPL)

Pre-Formulation Architext, JPL Ex-officio*

Aki Roberge (NASA GSFC)

Pre-Formulation Scientist (interim)

Bertrand Mennesson (JPL)

Pre-Formulation Scientists, JPL Ex-officio*

Breann Sitarski (NASA GSFC)

Deputy Principal Architect, GSFC Testbed Lead

Matt Bolcar (NASA GSFC)

Chief Technologist

Feng Zhao (JPL)

Deputy Chief Technologist, JPL Ex-officio*

Julie Van Campen (NASA GSFC)

Servicing and Instrument Systems Lead

Marie Levine (JPL)

Integrated Modeling Lead, JPL Ex-officio*

An engineering concept of HWO. It has a primary mirror made of hexagon segments and sits in side a yellow barrel.

Caleb Baker (JPL)

JPL Testbed Lead

HWO Community Science and Instrument Team (CSIT)

  • NASA solicited self-nominations from interested individuals to participate.

    Building on the foundation of the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) Technology Maturation Project Office (TMPO), NASA established the HWO Community Science & Instrument Team (CSIT). This team is crucial for bringing the expertise of the scientific community directly into the early stages of planning for the Habitable Worlds Observatory. CSIT selections were announced in June 2025.

    Specifically, the CSIT will:
    Serve as key liaisons to the broader scientific community, fostering communication and ensuring wide input into the mission's development.
    Lead scientific investigations to help the project establish the observatory's primary science objectives and requirements.
    Analyze TMPO-provided  science instrument concepts and support basic instrument definition 
    Provide valuable scientific perspectives on the technology development plans that will enable HWO to achieve its goals.

    The CSIT members are:
    David Charbonneau (Harvard), Co-Chair
    Evgenya Shkolnik (Arizona State), Co-Chair
    Michael Bottom (U. Hawaii)
    Eric Burns (LSU)
    Richard Cartwright (JHU-APL)
    Ewan Douglas (U. Arizona)
    Kevin France (LASP/CU Boulder)
    Scott Gaudi (Ohio State)
    Rebecca Jensen-Clem (UCSC)
    Janice Lee (STScI)
    Victoria Meadows (U. Washington)
    Chris Packham (UT San Antonio)
    Laurent Pueyo (STScI)
    Tyler Robinson (U. Arizona)
    Jason Tumlinson (STScI)

A graphic displaying the members of the Community Science & Instrument Team. The team member headshots are in small circles in the foreground, their names and affiliations below. In the background, there is a an image of a planet.
The members of the HWO CSIT.
NASA/Yesenia Arroyo

HWO Working Groups

  • The science and technology working groups ensured the scope of HWO is clearly defined.

    The science groups quantified HWO's science objectives using Astro2020's guidance, outlined the observatory and instrument capabilities needed to accomplish these goals, and developed the science goals for the observatory.

    The technology working groups studied the architecture options, identified and assessed the mission architecture and technologies needed to enable these options, and evaluated the risks associated with these options.

    The HWO working groups were active from September 2023 to July 2025.

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