In early 2026, NASA will launch Israel’s first space telescope – the Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite, or ULTRASAT – into high-Earth orbit, as part of a newly signed partnership between NASA and Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.

ULTRASAT is a premier project of the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Israel Space Agency. The telescope is expected to revolutionize scientists’ ability to detect and analyze transient events in the universe, such as neutron star mergers and supernova explosions.

What makes ULTRASAT such a game changer is its unprecedented field of view – a full 204 square degrees. This represents a 100-fold leap in the extra-galactic volume accessible to scientists for the discovery of transient sources, compared to observatories on Earth. Moreover, ULTRASAT will be able to measure ultraviolet light that cannot be measured from Earth, and it will provide the scientific community with real-time alerts on transient events.

Together, these unique capabilities will allow scientists to observe the universe as never before and will shed light on some basic questions, such as the origin of heavy elements in nature and the impact of giant black holes on their environments. The telescope will enhance research on a wide variety of astronomical subjects, including supernovae, variable and flare stars, active galaxies, the source of gravitational waves, and accretion of stars by massive black holes.

“This is a breakthrough project that places Israel at the forefront of global research,” says Prof. Eli Waxman, an astrophysicist at the Weizmann Institute and ULTRASAT’s head researcher. “Leading international bodies such as NASA and DESY [Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, a major research institute in Germany] have joined this Israeli-led project as partners, having recognized its scientific significance. They are investing considerable resources in the construction and launch of the satellite to become active participants in this mission with access to its scientific products. It’s a science-driven partnership.”

Uri Oron, Director of the Israel Space Agency in the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology is equally enthusiastic about this milestone. “Groundbreaking science calls for cutting-edge technology. Our requirements from ULTRASAT, such as a wide field of view, advanced ultraviolet sensitivity, and real-time data control and transfer are at the forefront of technological developments.”