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Schmidts Fund New Space Telescopes, Boost Private Exploration

1/18/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Eric Schmidt, the former Google CEO, and his wife Wendy Schmidt will finance new observatories, including the Lazuli space telescope set to launch in 2028.
Lazuli will replace the Hubble Space Telescope and will have a 3.1-meter mirror, providing a clearer view from orbit that avoids interference from low Earth satellites.
The Schmidts are funding ground-based projects, including the Argus Array and the DSA Radio Telescope, to enhance space science at lower costs.
The funding trend reflects increasing private-sector involvement in space exploration, driven by reduced launch costs and the efforts of billionaires such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

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Story summary

Eric Schmidt, the former Google CEO, and his wife Wendy Schmidt will finance new observatories, including the Lazuli space telescope set to launch in 2028.
Lazuli will replace the Hubble Space Telescope and will have a 3.1-meter mirror, providing a clearer view from orbit that avoids interference from low Earth satellites.
The Schmidts are funding ground-based projects, including the Argus Array and the DSA Radio Telescope, to enhance space science at lower costs.
The funding trend reflects increasing private-sector involvement in space exploration, driven by reduced launch costs and the efforts of billionaires such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.