Eric Schmidt funds four private telescopes, including a Hubble-like space observatory

Eric and Wendy Schmidt announced funding for four telescopes called the Schmidt Observatory System, including a 3.1-meter space telescope named Lazuli slated to begin operations around 2029. The package also includes three ground-based, modular arrays — Argus, a large radio array (DSA), and LFAST — with an open-data plan.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife Wendy announced a philanthropic effort to fund four new telescopes under the name Schmidt Observatory System. The projects include one space telescope, Lazuli, and three ground-based arrays that use modular designs and modern computing. The organizers say the work will move faster than typical large government programs and that data will be openly shared rather than sold. Precise financial details were not disclosed, but organizers described very large costs for building and launching the instruments. Key details: - Lazuli is a 3.1-meter optical space telescope planned by Schmidt Sciences, with instruments described as a wide-field camera, a spectrograph, and a high-contrast coronagraph; organizers say it could launch as early as late 2028 and begin operations in 2029. - Lazuli will be placed in a high, elliptical orbit (reported apogee about 275,000 km and perigee about 77,000 km) to reduce interference from low-Earth satellites, and the team says it aims for faster response and data downlink than older space telescopes. - Argus Array is planned as roughly 1,200 small optical telescopes (about 11-inch mirrors) managed by the University of North Carolina and built by Observable Space; it is described as imaging the Northern Hemisphere every second and will be co-funded by the Schmidts and a private co-funder. - The DSA radio project is described as an array of about 1,600 radio dishes in a Nevada valley, to be managed by the California Institute of Technology and fully funded by the Schmidts, with a goal of producing frequent radio-sky maps. - LFAST is a modular spectroscopic facility led by the University of Arizona, built from 20 smaller mirrors in a rack to provide the equivalent collecting area of a multi-meter telescope; a prototype could be deployed by mid-2026. - Schmidt Sciences says the projects will emphasize modern, modular designs enabled by cheaper launches, AI processing, and large storage needs, and that the data will be openly available to the scientific community rather than sold. Summary: The Schmidts’ gift aims to accelerate the development and deployment of four telescopes that combine space and ground capabilities and modern, modular engineering. Known next steps include moving toward hardware and launch schedules for Lazuli (late 2028 launch, operations in 2029 reported) and a possible LFAST prototype by mid-2026; other timelines and full contractor lists remain undetermined at this time.