Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA): Gravitational Waves
Our basic theory of how the universe evolved predicts gravitational waves. There is strong indirect evidence that they exist. LISA's main goal is to find and observe gravitational waves emitted by massive black holes at the centers of nearby galaxies. This mission is being developed jointly by NASA and the European Space Agency with participation by both JPL and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Galaxy Evolution Explorer
This mission uses ultraviolet wavelengths to measure the history of star formation 80 percent of the way back to the Big Bang.
Two Micron All-Sky Survey
Twin telescopes in Arizona and Chile have mapped the entire sky in infrared, producing a wealth of beautiful images and scientific data. The University of Massachusetts (url tba) and Caltech/JPL collaborate on this project.
Space Very Long Baseline Interferometry (Space VLBI)
This is the site for a Japanese mission that used interferometry to study black holes. NASA and JPL are international partners in this mission.
Herschel Space Observatory
With a planned launch in 2007, the Herschel Space Observatory is a space-based telescope that will study the universe by the light of the far-infrared and submillimeter portions of the spectrum.
Advanced Radio Interferometry between Earth and Space (ARISE)
This future mission will combine the power of Earth-orbiting telescopes and ground-based telescopes to study black holes.
Space Infrared Telescope Facility
This mission is an infrared telescope that will study the early universe, old galaxies and forming stars, and will detect dust discs around stars where planets may be forming.
Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2)
The Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 is the main instrument aboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope used for taking general pictures of stars, galaxies and planets. The instrument actually consists for four internal camera systems: three wide-field cameras, and one narrow-field camera.