Habitable Worlds Observatory Engineering and Architecture Updates

[Presented at AAS-247 Special Session "NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory"] The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is the top recommendation of the 2020 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey and NASA’s next astronomy flagship observatory after Roman. A pre-formulation project, the Technology Maturation Program Office (TMPO), has been established at GSFC, with support from JPL, ARC, and MSFC, to mature the required technology and mission concept before entering Phase A. This talk focuses on the continued development and maturation of two point-designs: Exploratory Analytic Cases (EACs) 4 & 5, starting in July of 2025, with the intent to reach a single baseline design (EAC 6) decision by June of 2027. It will show progress on both mission architectures, including refining driving science requirements, telescope and payload design and modeling results, and technology development activities. It will conclude with a presentation of TMPO’s plans leading to the Mission Concept Review (MCR) by the end of this decade.