In January 2023, a new space telescope concept was proposed called the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), which draws upon HabEx and the Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor (LUVOIR).

In 2019, the four teams turned their final reports over to the National Academy of Sciences, whose independent Decadal Survey committee advises NASA on which mission should take top priority.

[5][6] HabEx will be sensitive to all types of planets; however its main goal is to directly image Earth-size rocky exoplanets, and characterize their atmospheric content.

By measuring the spectra of these planets, HabEx will search for signatures of habitability such as water, and be sensitive to gases in the atmosphere potentially indicative of biological activity, such as oxygen or ozone.

With a contrast that is 1000 times better than that achievable with the Hubble Space Telescope,[10] HabEx could resolve large dust structures, tracing the gravitational effect of planets.

By imaging several faint protoplanetary disks for the first time, HabEx will enable comparative studies of dust inventory and properties across a broad range of stellar classifications.

[10] For characterization of extraterrestrial atmospheres, going to longer wavelengths would require a 52 m (171 ft) starshade that would launch separately on a Falcon Heavy,[1] or a larger telescope in order to reduce the amount of background light.

[10] Molecular oxygen (O2) can be produced by geophysical processes, as well as a byproduct of photosynthesis by life forms, so although encouraging, O2 is not a definite biosignature, unless it is considered in its environmental context.