Year: 2009
Type: other
Abstract: The discovery of extrasolar planets is one of the greatest achievements of modern astronomy. The detection of planets that vary widely in mass demonstrates that extrasolar 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 rocky planets similar to Earth and perform spectroscopic analysis at mid-infrared wavelengths (6-20 mum), where an advantageous contrast ratio between star and planet occurs. The baseline mission is projected to last 5 years and consists of approximately 200 individual target stars. Among these, 25-50 planetary systems can be studied spectroscopically, which will include the search for gases such as CO(2), H(2)O, CH(4), and O(3). 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.
Source: Astrobiology
Authors: C.S. Cockell, A. Léger, M. Fridlund, T.M. Herbst, L. Kaltenegger, O. Absil, C. Beichman, W. Benz, M. Blanc, A. Brack, A. Chelli, L. Colangeli, H. Cottin, F. Coudé du Foresto, W.C. Danchi, D. Defrère, J.-W. den Herder, C. Eiroa, J. Greaves, T. Henning, K.J. 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.M. Mugnier, M. Ollivier, F. Paresce, A. Quirrenbach, Y.D. Rabbia, J.A. Raven, H.J.A. Rottgering, D. Rouan, N.C. Santos, F. Selsis, E. Serabyn, H. Shibai, M. Tamura, E. Thiébaut, F. Westall, G.J. White
Institutions: The Open University, Université Paris-Sud, Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, European Space Agency, European Space Research and Technology Centre, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Joseph Fourier, Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble, California Institute of Technology, University of Bern, Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées, Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, National Institute for Astrophysics, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire des Systèmes Atmosphériques, Observatoire de Paris, Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique, Goddard Space Flight Center, University of Liège, Space Research Organisation Netherlands, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, University of St Andrews, United States Naval Observatory, University of Hertfordshire, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Space Research Institute, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Systems & Processes Engineering Corporation (United States), Centre National d'Études Spatiales, Chalmers University of Technology, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Marseille, Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales, Département Optique et Techniques Associées, European Southern Observatory, University of Dundee, Leiden University, Leiden Observatory, Universidade do Porto, Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto, Université de Lyon, Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon, Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers, Nagoya University, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Lyon 1 Université, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Observatoire de Lyon, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2116228691