Pioneering Telescope Launched by UMass Lowell and NASA Embarks on Cosmic Quest

A Monumental Launch

In a historic collaboration, NASA and UMass Lowell have launched the PICTURE-D telescope, a state-of-the-art device designed to peer into the vastness of space, seeking planets beyond our solar system. This groundbreaking mission took flight aboard a helium balloon the size of a football field, a stunning visual spectacle witnessed on October 1, 2025, from the NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in New Mexico.

Reaching for the Stars

Tethered to its massive helium balloon, PICTURE-D ascended to an awe-inspiring altitude of 120,000 feet, where it hovered, capturing images of the cosmos. Weighing 1,500 pounds and measuring 14-feet-long, this innovative telescope is equipped with a coronagraph, a tool that blocks light to photograph objects near luminous stars, revealing celestial bodies previously obscured by their radiant neighbors.

Unveiling the Unknown

According to Lowell Sun, the mission’s objective is to identify planetary systems shrouded in the darkness, including extensive rings of dust, rock, and ice – the celestial breadcrumbs that could indicate the presence of undiscovered planets. “What we’re hoping to see are signposts of planets, evidence of planets,” stated a senior researcher, highlighting the mission’s ambition to one day visualize these distant worlds.

The Collaborative Effort

This scientific marvel is a testament to the collaboration between UMass Lowell’s Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology and NASA’s facilities. The endeavor not only advances space exploration but also cultivates future researchers. Students from UMass Lowell participated in the design and development of PICTURE-D and eagerly await the data that will broaden their understanding of the universe.

A Visionary Future

Funded by a $7 million grant from NASA’s Astrophysics Research and Analysis Program, this mission exemplifies the synergy of education and innovation. As PICTURE-D captures the cosmos, the gathered data promises to fuel future technologies and research, potentially unraveling the mysteries of spaces unobserved and unimagined.

The successful return of this mission marks a new dawn for space exploration, providing fresh opportunities for discovery while bridging the gap between academia and industry. With each image transported back, our view of the cosmos expands, offering glimpses of what might lie beyond our solar frontier.

Join us as we follow this extraordinary journey, unlocking the secrets of the universe, one star at a time.