ASTRA updates and PhysPAG webinar on 2 June 2026

At the PhysPAG Executive Committee retreat May 20-21, the EC and SIG chairs reviewed community feedback on the ASTRA Initiative and announced a PhysPAG Community Webinar on Tuesday, 02 June at 2p-3p Eastern / 11a-12p Pacific to provide further clarification. The ASTRA Initiative will develop selected mission concept studies to Concept Maturity Level 3 and Manufacturing Readiness Level of roughly 3–4, identify tall‑pole and long‑lead technologies for prioritization, and highlight science priorities including those that have shifted since Astro2020.

The PAGs were charged with collecting concepts; PhysPAG has asked each Science Interest Group to gather and synthesize input on science drivers, capabilities, and technologies that could motivate potential large (≈$1B+) mission concepts for the next decade or two.

Some SIGs have formed Science Analysis Groups to guide the process. There is a short window to build community consensus before the Ad ASTRA workshop 1–3 September 2026.

astra initiative, physpag, webinar, mission concept, concept maturity, manufacturing readiness, sig chairs, science analysis, ad astra, astro2020