An image of the Orion nebula showing carbon-rich molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as wisps of red and orange

HWO News

Contact information for press inquiries and recent news about the mission.

Habitable Worlds Observatory Project Update

The Habitable Worlds Observatory Technology Maturation Project Office was established at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center on August 1st, 2024. The following individuals make up the project office team (use the arrows in the bottom right corner to advance through slides):

  • Lee Feinberg (NASA GSFC), Principal Architect
  • Scott Smith (NASA GSFC), Project Manager (interim)
  • Mike Menzel (NASA GSFC), 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
  • Alice Liu, (NASA GSFC), Deputy Mission Systems Engineer
  • 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*

*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).

For any inquiries regarding the Habitable Worlds Observatory, please contact:

Alise Fisher

Public Affairs Specialist | Astrophysics

Office of Communications | NASA Headquarters

Phone: 202-358-2546

Email: alise.m.fisher@nasa.gov