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Cosmic Microwave Background Probe

The CMB SAG will evaluate the role that a future Cosmic Microwave Background space mission would play in addressing fundamental questions about our universe.

About CMB SAG

Significant Recent Developments Compel a Critical Re-evaluation of the Role of a CMB Probe

The importance of CMB science was emphasized by the 2020 Decadal Survey Report, Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s.

Next-generation cosmic microwave background (CMB) telescopes will address fundamental questions about our universe, including illuminating the physics that drove inflation at energy scales beyond the reach of terrestrial particle accelerators, shedding light on the epoch of reionization when the first stars turned on, improving constraints on the mass of neutrinos, and searching for the signature of additional light relic particles and other physics beyond the Standard Model.

A CMB Probe would break new ground in a broad range of topics in astrophysics and cosmology.

CMB instruments will have a profound impact on astrophysics by mapping and characterizing Galactic emissions, probing the structure of the universe through detection of tens of thousands of clusters and other sources, and tracking the variability of the sky at millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelengths.

This group will evaluate the role that a future CMB space mission would play in addressing these questions, key trades to be considered in mission architecture, and the technologies that need to be matured to enable such a mission. Specific questions to be addressed are:

  1. What has changed in the scientific landscape relative to Astro2020? What guidance and conclusions do we draw from developments in understanding Galactic Foregrounds and delensing techniques?
  2. What would be the role of a CMB Probe and how would it complement ground-based, balloon-borne, and other space projects? What would be the legacy value of such a Probe to a broad range of science?
  3. Have there been significant developments in component technologies or launch capabilities that need to be studied in advance of the 2030 Decadal Survey? What technology development is still needed to enable a CMB Probe mission?

CMB SAG Co-Chairs

NameEmailInstitution
Shaul Hananyhanany@umn.eduUniversity of Minnesota
Brendan Crillbrendan.p.crill@jpl.nasa.govJPL
Tom Essinger-Hilemanthomas.m.essinger-hileman@nasa.govNASA Goddard Space Flight Center

News & Events

Meetings, conferences, seminars, workshops, and other news and events for CMB SAG

CMB SAG Meeting December 12, 2025

Cosmic Microwave Background Science Analysis Group Meeting

Dec 12, 2025
Topic
Cosmic Microwave Background Probe Science Analysis Group (CMB SAG)

CMB SAG Co-Chairs Name Email Institution Shaul Hanany hanany@umn.edu University of Minnesota Brendan Crill brendan.p.crill@jpl.nasa.gov JPL Tom Essinger-Hileman thomas.m.essinger-hileman@nasa.gov NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Join the CMB SAG Email List To subscribe to the CMB SAG email list, send an…

Nov 25, 2025
Topic

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This cropped horizontal image has layers of semi-opaque rusty red colored gas and dust that starts at the bottom right and goes toward the top left. There are three prominent pillars rising toward the top left. The left pillar is the largest and widest. The peaks of the second and third pillars are set off in darker shades of brown and have red outlines.