The Habitable Worlds Observatory in Historical Context
arXiv:2602.14823
Abstract
We summarize the past four decades of astrophysics and exoplanet direct imaging mission concept studies, technology developments, and scientific progress that have led to the initiation of the Habitable Worlds Observatory project by NASA.
10 pages. To be published in the proceedings "Towards the Habitable Worlds Observatory: Visionary Science and Transformational Technology"