[FPSPACE] DARWIN - A Mission to Detect, and Search for Life on, Extrasolar Planets

[LARRY KLAES]

DARWIN - A Mission to Detect, and Search for Life on, Extrasolar Planets

Authors: C. S. Cockell, A. Leger, M. Fridlund, T. Herbst, L. Kaltenegger, O. 
Absil, C. Beichman, W. Benz, M. Blanc, A. Brack, A. Chelli, L. Colangeli, H. 
Cottin, V. Coude du Foresto, W. Danchi, D. Defrere, J.-W. den Herder, C. 
Eiroa, J. Greaves, T. Henning, K. Johnston, H. Jones, L. Labadie, H. Lammer, 
R. Launhardt, P. Lawson, O. P. Lay, J.-M. LeDuigou, R. Liseau, F. Malbet, S. 
R. Martin, D. Mawet, D. Mourard, C. Moutou, L. Mugnier, F. Paresce, A. 
Quirrenbach, Y. Rabbia, J. A. Raven, H. J. A. Rottgering, D. Rouan, N. 
Santos, F. Selsis, E. Serabyn, H. Shibai, M. Tamura, E. Thiebaut, F. 
Westall, White, J. Glenn

(Submitted on 13 May 2008)

Abstract: The discovery of extra-solar planets is one of the greatest 
achievements of modern astronomy. The detection of planets with a wide range 
of masses demonstrates that extra-solar planets of low mass exist. In this 
paper we describe a mission, called Darwin, whose primary goal is the search 
for, and characterization of, terrestrial extrasolar planets and the search 
for life. Accomplishing the mission objectives will require collaborative 
science across disciplines including astrophysics, planetary sciences, 
chemistry and microbiology.

Darwin is designed to detect and perform spectroscopic analysis of rocky 
planets similar to the Earth at mid-infrared wavelengths (6 - 20 micron), 
where an advantageous contrast ratio between star and planet occurs. The 
baseline mission lasts 5 years and consists of approximately 200 individual 
target stars. Among these, 25 to 50 planetary systems can be studied 
spectroscopically, searching for gases such as CO2, H2O, CH4 and O3.

Many of the key technologies required for the construction of Darwin have 
already been demonstrated and the remainder are estimated to be mature in 
the near future. Darwin is a mission that will ignite intense interest in 
both the research community and the wider public.

Subjects: Astrophysics (astro-ph)

Cite as: arXiv:0805.1873v1 [astro-ph]

Submission history

From: Glenn White Prof [view email]

[v1] Tue, 13 May 2008 15:37:51 GMT (2326kb)

http://arxiv.org/abs/0805.1873