Summary:
- The article discusses two space observatory proposals that are competing to become NASA's next major astrophysics mission: the Habitable Exoplanet Observatory (HabEx) and the Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor (LUVOIR).
- HabEx is designed to directly image exoplanets and study their atmospheres to search for signs of habitability and potential biosignatures, while LUVOIR would be a more versatile observatory capable of a wide range of astrophysical observations.
- Both proposals offer exciting possibilities for advancing our understanding of the universe, and NASA is expected to select one of them to move forward as the agency's next flagship astrophysics mission in the coming years.