The PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA) is an infrared observatory for the next decade, currently in Phase A, with a 1.8 m telescope actively cooled to 4.5 K. On board, an infrared camera, PRIMAger, equipped with ultra-sensitive kinetic inductance detector arrays, will provide observers with a coverage of mid-infrared to far-infrared wavelengths from 24 to 264 mu m. PRIMAger will offer two imaging modes: the hyperspectral mode will cover the 24 to 84 mu m wavelength range with a spectral resolution R >= 8, whereas the polarimetric mode will provide polarimetric imaging in four broadbands from 80 to 264 mu m. These observational capabilities have been tailored to answer fundamental astrophysical questions such as black hole and star-formation co-evolution in galaxies, the evolution of small dust grains over a wide range of redshifts, and the effects of interstellar magnetic fields in various environments, as well as to open a vast discovery space with versatile photometric and polarimetric capabilities. PRIMAger is being developed by an international collaboration bringing together French institutes (Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille and CEA) through the Center National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES, Paris, France), the Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON, Leiden, Netherlands), and the Cardiff University (Cardiff, UK) in Europe, as well as the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Goddard Space Flight Center in the United States. (c) 2025 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) [DOI: 10.1117/1.JATIS.11.3.031625]

MOSAIC* is the multi-object spectrograph (MOS) for the ESO 39m European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) approved to enter phase B at the of beginning 2023. MOSAIC combines visible and near-infrared channels, from resolved stars up to the most distant galaxies, with multi-object and multi-integral field spectroscopy capabilities. The NIR-spectrograph (130K-90K) is one sub-system of the NIR-channel, led by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM, Spain). The NIR Spectrograph (NIRSPEC) comprises 2 identical spectrographs, each one equipped with Teledyne H4RG science detectors (4kx4k, 15 mu m pixels). Each spectrograph operates at 130K (with detectors at 90K) and covers the 2 observing bands J (1 - 1.38 mu m) and H (1.43 - 1.85 mu m in low-resolution mode and 1.52 - 1.65 mu m in high-resolution mode). This paper presents the optical design of the NIRSPEC.

The PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA) is an actively cooled, infrared observatory for the community for the next decade. On board, an infrared camera, PRIMAger, will provide observers with coverage of mid-infrared to far-infrared wavelengths from about 25 to 264 microns. PRIMAger will offer two imaging modes: the Hyperspectral mode will cover the 25-80 microns wavelength range with a resolution R~10 while the Polarimetric mode will have four broad-band filters, sensitive to polarization, from 80 to 264 microns. These capabilities have been specifically tailored to answer fundamental astrophysical questions such as black hole and star-formation coevolution in galaxies, the evolution of small dust grains over a wide range of redshifts, and the effects of interstellar magnetic fields in various environments, as well as opening a vast discovery space with versatile photometric and polarimetric capabilities.

MOSAIC is the Multi-Object Spectrograph (MOS) for the 39m Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), with unique capabilities in terms of multiplex, wavelength coverage and spectral resolution. It is a versatile multi-object spectrograph working in both the Visible and NIR domains, designed to cover the largest possible area (similar to 40 arcmin(2)) on the focal plane, and optimized to achieve the best possible signal-to-noise ratio on the faintest sources, from stars in our Galaxy to galaxies at the epoch of the reionization. In this paper we describe the main characteristics of the instrument, including its expected performance in the different observing modes. The status of the project will be briefly presented, together with the positioning of the instrument in the landscape of the ELT instrumentation. We also review the main expected scientific contributions of MOSAIC, focusing on the synergies between this instrument and other major ground-based and space facilities.

MOSAIC is the multi-object spectrograph (MOS) for the ESO 39m European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) approved to enter phase B beginning 2023. MOSAIC combines visible and near-infrared channels, from resolved stars up to the most distant galaxies, with multi-object and multi-integral field spectroscopy capabilities. The NIR-spectrograph (130K-90K) is one sub-system of the NIR-channel, led by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM, Spain). It includes four camera modules delivered by the Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM, France) and equipped with Teledyne H4RG science detectors (4kx4k, 15 mu m pixels). The four modules distribute two identical cryogenic benches ensuring, on each, the spectral coverage of the two observing bands J (0.95 - 1.34 mu m) and H (1.43 1.80 mu m in LR mode and 1.52 - 1.63 mu m in HR mode). This paper presents the design of a cryogenic NIR camera prototype based on an athermal concept and details the ongoing AIT development for verification in the 0.95 - 1.34 mu m domain in relevant environment (ESO TRL5).

PRIMA is a cryogenically-cooled, far-infrared observatory for the community for the beginning of the next decade (similar to 2031). It features two instruments, PRIMAger and FIRESS. The PRIMAger instrument will cover the mid-IR to far-IR wavelengths, from about 25 to 260 mu m. Hyperspectral imaging can be obtained in 12 medium-resolution bands (R similar to 10, more precisely a linear variable filter) covering the wavelength range from 2 5 to 8 0 micrometers, and broad-band (R similar to 4) photometric and polarimetric imaging can be carried out in four bands between 80 and 260 mu m. PRIMAger's unique and unprecedented scientific capabilities will enable study, both in PI and GO programs, of black hole and star-formation coevolution in galaxies, the evolution of small dust grains over a wide range of redshift, and the effects of interstellar magnetic fields in various environments, as well as opening up a vast discovery space with its versatile imaging and polarimetric capabilities. One of the most ambitious possibilities is to carry out an all-sky far-IR survey with PRIMAger, creating a rich data set for many investigations. The design of PRIMAger is presented is an accompanying paper (Ciesla et al., SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2024).

MOSAIC, the multi-object spectrograph (MOS) for the ESO 39m European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), will combine visible and near-infrared observations with multi-object and multi-integral field spectroscopy capabilities. It will cover a wide panel of topics, from resolved stars up to the most distant galaxies. In the frame of the NIR spectrograph unit realization led by the Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM), this paper presents the ongoing development of a cryogenic (90-130 K) NIR camera prototype tested in the 0.77-1.063 µm wavelengths (I band) detailing the opto-mechanical design and the integration and verification strategies in accordance with validation in relevant environment (ESO TRL5).

MOSAIC is the Muti-Object Spectrograph for the ESO Extremely Large Telescope. The Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM) is in charge of the instrument “Assembly, Integration, Test and Verification (AIT/V)” phases. AITV for AO instruments, in laboratory as in the telescope, always represent numerous technical challenges. We already started the preparation and planning for the instrument level AIT activities, from identification of needs, challenges, risks, to defining the optimal AIT strategy. In this paper, we present the state of this study and describe several AIT/V scenarios and a planning for AIT phases in Europe and in Chile. We also show our capacity, experience and expertise to lead the instrument MOSAIC AIT/V activities.

The NISP (Near Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer) is one of the two Euclid instruments (see ref [1]). It operates in the near-IR spectral region (950-2020nm) as a photometer and spectrometer. The instrument is composed of: - a cold (135K) optomechanical subsystem consisting of a Silicon carbide structure, an optical assembly, a filter wheel mechanism, a grism wheel mechanism, a calibration unit and a thermal control system - a detection system based on a mosaic of 16 H2RG with their front-end readout electronic. - a warm electronic system (290K) composed of a data processing / detector control unit and of an instrument control unit that interfaces with the spacecraft via a 1553 bus for command and control and via Spacewire links for science data This paper presents: - the final architecture of the flight model instrument and subsystems - the performances and the ground calibration measurement done at NISP level and at Euclid Payload Module level at operational cold temperature.

The Infra-Red Telescope (IRT) is part of the payload of the THESEUS mission, which is one of the two ESA M5 candidates within the Cosmic Vision program, planned for launch in 2032. The THESEUS payload, composed by two high energy wide field monitors (SXI and XGIS) and a near infra-red telescope (IRT), is optimized to detect, localize and characterize Gamma-Ray Bursts and other high-energy transients. The main goal of the IRT is to identify and precisely localize the NIR counterparts of the high-energy sources and to measure their distance. Here we present the design of the IRT and its expected performance.

Euclid is a part of the European Space Agency Cosmic Vision program. Euclid mission’s goal is to understand the origin of the accelerating expansion of the Universe. This space mission will embark a 1.2 m Korsch telescope, a visible imager (VIS) and a near-infrared spectrometer and photometer (NISP).

The Euclid mission objective is to understand why the expansion of the Universe is accelerating through by mapping the geometry of the dark Universe by investigating the distance-redshift relationship and tracing the evolution of cosmic structures. The Euclid project is part of ESA's Cosmic Vision program with its launch planned for 2020 (ref [1]).The NISP (Near Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer) is one of the two Euclid instruments and is operating in the near-IR spectral region (900-2000nm) as a photometer and spectrometer. The instrument is composed of:- a cold (135K) optomechanical subsystem consisting of a Silicon carbide structure, an optical assembly (corrector and camera lens), a filter wheel mechanism, a grism wheel mechanism, a calibration unit and a thermal control system- a detection subsystem based on a mosaic of 16 HAWAII2RG cooled to 95K with their front-end readout electronic cooled to 140K, integrated on a mechanical focal plane structure made with molybdenum and aluminum. The detection subsystem is mounted on the optomechanical subsystem structure- a warm electronic subsystem (280K) composed of a data processing /detector control unit and of an instrument control unit that interfaces with the spacecraft via a 1553 bus for command and control and via Spacewire links for science data This presentation describes the architecture of the instrument at the end of the phase C (Detailed Design Review), the expected performance, the technological key challenges and preliminary test results obtained for different NISP subsystem breadboards and for the NISP Structural and Thermal model (STM).

The Euclid mission objective is to map the geometry of the dark Universe by investigating the distance-redshift relationship and the evolution of cosmic structures. The NISP (Near Infrared Spectro-Photometer) is one of the two Euclid instruments operating in the near-IR spectral region (0.9-2 mu m). The instrument is composed of:-a cold (140K) optomechanical subsystem constituted by a SiC structure, an optical assembly, a filter wheel mechanism, a grism wheel mechanism, a calibration unit and a thermal control-a detection subsystem based on a mosaic of 16 Teledyne HAWAII2RG 2.4 mu m. The detection subsystem is mounted on the optomechanical subsystem structure-a warm electronic subsystem (280K) composed of a data processing / detector control unit and of an instrument control unit.This presentation will describe the architecture of the instrument, the expected performance and the technological key challenges. This paper is presented on behalf of the Euclid Consortium

Euclid is a space-based survey mission from the European Space Agency designed to understand the origin of the Universe's accelerating expansion. It will use cosmological probes to investigate the nature of dark energy, dark matter and gravity by tracking their observational signatures on the geometry of the universe and on the cosmic history of structure formation. The mission is optimised for two independent primary cosmological probes: Weak gravitational Lensing (WL) and Baryonic Acoustic Oscillations (BAO). The Euclid payload consists of a 1.2 m Korsch telescope designed to provide a large field of view. It carries two instruments with a common field-of-view of ~0.54 deg2: the visual imager (VIS) and the near infrared instrument (NISP) which contains a slitless spectrometer and a three bands photometer. The Euclid wide survey will cover 15,000 deg2 of the extragalactic sky and is complemented by two 20 deg2 deep fields. For WL, Euclid measures the shapes of 30-40 resolved galaxies per arcmin2 in one broad visible R+I+Z band (550-920 nm). The photometric redshifts for these galaxies reach a precision of dz/(1+z) < 0.05. They are derived from three additional Euclid NIR bands (Y, J, H in the range 0.92-2.0 micron), complemented by ground based photometry in visible bands derived from public data or through engaged collaborations. The BAO are determined from a spectroscopic survey with a redshift accuracy dz/(1+z) =0.001. The slitless spectrometer, with spectral resolution ~250, predominantly detects Ha emission line galaxies. Euclid is a Medium Class mission of the ESA Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 programme, with a foreseen launch date in 2019. This report (also known as the Euclid Red Book) describes the outcome of the Phase A study.

A well-adapted visible and infrared spectrograph has been developed for the SNAP (SuperNova/Acceleration Probe) experiment proposed for JDEM. The primary goal of this instrument is to ensure the control of Type Ia supernovae. The spectrograph is also a key element for calibration and is able to measure redshift of some thousands of galaxy spectra both in visible and IR. An instrument based on an integral field method with the powerful concept of imager slicing has been designed and is presented. We present the current design and expected performances. We show that with the current optimization and the proposed technology, we expect the most sensitive instrument proposed on this kind of mission. We recall the readiness of the concept and of the slicer technology thanks to large prototyping efforts performed in France which validate the proposition. This work is supported in France by CNRS/INSU, CNRS/IN2P3 and by the French spatial agency (CNES).