10 research outputs found
Darwin -— an experimental astronomy mission to search for extrasolar planets
As a response to ESA call for mission concepts for its Cosmic Vision 2015–2025 plan, we propose a mission called Darwin. Its primary goal is the study of terrestrial extrasolar planets and the search for life on them. In this paper, we describe different characteristics of the instrument
DARWIN - A Mission to Detect, and Search for Life on, Extrasolar Planets
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
Geophysical and atmospheric evolution of habitable planets
The evolution of Earth-like habitable planets is a complex process that depends on the geodynamical and geophysical environments. In particular, it is necessary that plate tectonics remain active over billions of years. These geophysically active environments are strongly coupled to a planet's host star parameters, such as mass, luminosity and activity, orbit location of the habitable zone, and the planet's initial water inventory. Depending on the host star's radiation and particle flux evolution, the composition in the thermosphere, and the availability of an active magnetic dynamo, the atmospheres of Earth-like planets within their habitable zones are differently affected due to thermal and nonthermal escape processes. For some planets, strong atmospheric escape could even effect the stability of the atmosphere