Project Grant 2608021
- The National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences awarded California Institute of Technology $1.15 million on August 15, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) to advance conceptual design and planning for the Cosmic Explorer, a next-generation gravitational-wave observatory. Cosmic Explorer will be a 40-kilometer L-shaped interferometer designed to detect gravitational waves across cosmic time with sensitivity ten times...
- This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Physics, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), provides $477,375 to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) to identify and evaluate potential sites for the Cosmic Explorer (CE), a next-generation gravitational-wave observatory. The award supports research to locate and assess viable locations for the CE facility, which will be substantially larger than the existing LIGO...
- The National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences awarded CSU Fullerton Auxiliary Services Corporation $535,893 on August 15, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) to evaluate potential host sites for Cosmic Explorer, the next-generation gravitational-wave observatory that will scale LIGO technology from 4 km to 40 km detector arm lengths. The project will transition Cosmic Explorer site evaluation from a national "long...
- This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Division of Physics (CFDA 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences) provides $170,165 to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) to support the conceptual design of the laser interferometers for the Cosmic Explorer gravitational wave observatory. The key products and services to be delivered under this award include: Producing a parametric conceptual optical design for the Cosmic Explorer interferometers, which will inform...
- The National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences awarded the Regents of the University of Minnesota $191,494 on August 15, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program to conduct collaborative research preparing for Cosmic Explorer site selection. The work extends through July 31, 2028, and is performed in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The project advances site evaluation for Cosmic Explorer, the United States' next-generation gravitational-wave...
- The National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences awarded the University of Arizona $655,095 on August 15, 2026, to conduct collaborative research preparing for Cosmic Explorer site selection under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049). The project will evaluate potential sites for Cosmic Explorer, the United States' next-generation gravitational-wave observatory that will scale LIGO technology from 4 km to 40 km detector arm lengths. The...
- This $904,704 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences Program (CFDA 47.049) supports collaborative research to identify and evaluate sites for a next-generation gravitational-wave observatory called Cosmic Explorer (CE). CE will build on the success of the existing LIGO and Virgo gravitational-wave detection facilities to push the reach of gravitational-wave astronomy to the edge of the observable universe. The award funds...
- The National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences awarded Syracuse University $279,979 on August 15, 2026, to narrow site selection for the Cosmic Explorer next-generation gravitational-wave observatory. The project, funded under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), will evaluate potential locations for Cosmic Explorer by reducing a long list of 40 national locations to a short list of 6 vetted sites, producing a detailed report to...
- This National Science Foundation (NSF) Project Grant award under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) provides $1,956,940 to the University of Arizona to support research for identifying and evaluating potential sites for the Cosmic Explorer (CE), a next-generation gravitational-wave observatory. The project aims to implement an integrated framework for location assessment, community consultation, and data-driven evaluation to select optimal sites for the CE facility,...
- This Project Grant award, valued at $366,596 and provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049), supports research to identify and evaluate potential sites for the Cosmic Explorer (CE), a next-generation gravitational-wave observatory in the U.S. Using geographic information systems and community engagement, the University of Oregon will lead efforts to select the most promising CE locations, with an initial focus on the...
The National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences awarded California Institute of Technology $166,496 on August 15, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) to advance site evaluation for Cosmic Explorer, the U.S. next-generation gravitational-wave observatory. The work narrows candidate locations for Cosmic Explorer from a long list of 40 national sites to a short list of 6 vetted locations, with sufficient detail to support an NSF-led site selection process. Cosmic Explorer scales LIGO's proven gravitational-wave detector technology from 4-kilometer to 40-kilometer arm lengths, extending gravitational-wave astronomy to observe phenomena including remnants of the first stars, extreme matter, and highly warped spacetime. The project evaluates sites across national, regional, and local levels, assesses feasibility within cost boundaries, evaluates workforce attraction and retention potential, and identifies locations that will enable the facility and its participants to thrive. The effort includes training of students and postdoctoral associates in multidisciplinary research to develop the STEM workforce. Performance of work is located in Pasadena, California. The award runs through July 31, 2028.
Mod # | Description | ReasonForModification | Federal Obligation | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not listed | $166.5k | 8/6/26 |