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NASA is developing the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), a space telescope aimed at identifying and mapping at least 25 Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars. HWO will focus on detecting biosignatures such as oxygen, methane, and water vapor in exoplanet atmospheres.

It will be capable of directly imaging exoplanets to analyze their atmospheric composition. The project is in early stages with a planned launch in the late 2040s, aiming to provide insights into the prevalence of habitable planets and the potential for extraterrestrial life.