The Origins Space Telescope: baseline concept overview

The Origins Space Telescope will trace the history of our origins from the time dust and heavy elements permanently altered the cosmic landscape to present-day life. How did galaxies evolve from the earliest galactic systems to those found in the universe today? How do habitable planets form? How common are life-bearing worlds? To answer these alluring questions, Origins will operate at mid- and far-infrared wavelengths and offer powerful spectroscopic instruments and sensitivity three orders of magnitude better than that of Herschel, the largest telescope flown in space to date. Origins was designed to minimize complexity and provide natural background-limited sensitivity. The telescope is 5.9 m in diameter. The telescope and its three scientific instruments are cryocooled to 4.5 K. The instruments collectively cover wavelengths from 2.8 to 590 microns. Origins will make targeted observations and conduct wide-area surveys in a variety of spectroscopic and broadband imaging modes.