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

C. S. Cockell; A. Leger; M. Fridlund; T. M. Herbst; L. Kaltenegger; O. Absil; C. Beichman; W. Benz; M. Blanc; A. Brack; A. Chelli; L. Colangeli; H. Cottin; F. Coude du Foresto; W. C. Danchi; D. Defrere; 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. Thiebaut; F. Westall; G. J. White

doi:10.1089/ast.2007.0227

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

C. S. Cockell^*, A. Leger, M. Fridlund, T. M. Herbst, L. Kaltenegger, O. Absil, C. Beichman, W. Benz, M. Blanc, A. Brack, A. Chelli, L. Colangeli, H. Cottin, F. Coude du Foresto, W. C. Danchi, D. Defrere, J. -W. den Herder, C. Eiroa, J. Greaves, T. HenningK. 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. Thiebaut, F. Westall, G. J. White

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

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 mu m), 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 CO2, H2O, CH4, 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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-22
Number of pages	22
Journal	Astrobiology
Volume	9
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2007.0227
Publication status	Published - 2009

Keywords

Darwin
Extrasolar planets
Orbital telescopes
M stars
Earth-like planets
Interferometry
EARTH-LIKE PLANETS
IN HABITABLE ZONES
HIGH-RESOLUTION SIMULATIONS
EJECTION CME ACTIVITY
MAIN-SEQUENCE STARS
MASS M-STARS
NULLING INTERFEROMETERS
SPECTRAL SIGNATURES
SYNTHETIC SPECTRA
TERRESTRIAL ATMOSPHERES

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10.1089/ast.2007.0227

Astrophysics in St Andrews: Astrophysics in St Andrews / SUPA (Continuan of Rolling Grant - XPP089
Bonnell, I. A. (PI), Cameron, A. C. (CoI), Dominik, M. (CoI), Driver, S. P. (CoI), Greaves, J. S. (CoI), Horne, K. D. (CoI), Jardine, M. M. (CoI), Wood, K. (CoI) & Zhao, H. (CoI)
Science & Technology Facilities Council
1/04/09 → 31/03/12
Project: Standard

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Cockell, C. S., Leger, A., Fridlund, M., Herbst, T. M., Kaltenegger, L., Absil, O., Beichman, C., Benz, W., Blanc, M., Brack, A., Chelli, A., Colangeli, L., Cottin, H., du Foresto, F. C., Danchi, W. C., Defrere, D., den Herder, J. .-W., Eiroa, C., Greaves, J., ... White, G. J. (2009). Darwin-A Mission to Detect and Search for Life on Extrasolar Planets. Astrobiology, 9(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2007.0227

@article{37e10cd97bbc44e292802722218e55ad,

title = "Darwin-A Mission to Detect and Search for Life on Extrasolar Planets",

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 mu m), 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 CO2, H2O, CH4, 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.",

keywords = "Darwin, Extrasolar planets, Orbital telescopes, M stars, Earth-like planets, Interferometry, EARTH-LIKE PLANETS, IN HABITABLE ZONES, HIGH-RESOLUTION SIMULATIONS, EJECTION CME ACTIVITY, MAIN-SEQUENCE STARS, MASS M-STARS, NULLING INTERFEROMETERS, SPECTRAL SIGNATURES, SYNTHETIC SPECTRA, TERRESTRIAL ATMOSPHERES",

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

year = "2009",

doi = "10.1089/ast.2007.0227",

language = "English",

volume = "9",

pages = "1--22",

journal = "Astrobiology",

issn = "1531-1074",

publisher = "Mary Ann Liebert Inc.",

number = "1",

}

Cockell, CS, Leger, A, Fridlund, M, Herbst, TM, Kaltenegger, L, Absil, O, Beichman, C, Benz, W, Blanc, M, Brack, A, Chelli, A, Colangeli, L, Cottin, H, du Foresto, FC, Danchi, WC, Defrere, D, den Herder, J-W, Eiroa, C, Greaves, J, Henning, T, Johnston, KJ, Jones, H, Labadie, L, Lammer, H, Launhardt, R, Lawson, P, Lay, OP, LeDuigou, J-M, Liseau, R, Malbet, F, Martin, SR, Mawet, D, Mourard, D, Moutou, C, Mugnier, LM, Ollivier, M, Paresce, F, Quirrenbach, A, Rabbia, YD, Raven, JA, Rottgering, HJA, Rouan, D, Santos, NC, Selsis, F, Serabyn, E, Shibai, H, Tamura, M, Thiebaut, E, Westall, F & White, GJ 2009, 'Darwin-A Mission to Detect and Search for Life on Extrasolar Planets', Astrobiology, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2007.0227

TY - JOUR

T1 - Darwin-A Mission to Detect and Search for Life on Extrasolar Planets

AU - Cockell, C. S.

AU - Leger, A.

AU - Fridlund, M.

AU - Herbst, T. M.

AU - Kaltenegger, L.

AU - Absil, O.

AU - Beichman, C.

AU - Benz, W.

AU - Blanc, M.

AU - Brack, A.

AU - Chelli, A.

AU - Colangeli, L.

AU - Cottin, H.

AU - du Foresto, F. Coude

AU - Danchi, W. C.

AU - Defrere, D.

AU - den Herder, J. -W.

AU - Eiroa, C.

AU - Greaves, J.

AU - Henning, T.

AU - Johnston, K. J.

AU - Jones, H.

AU - Labadie, L.

AU - Lammer, H.

AU - Launhardt, R.

AU - Lawson, P.

AU - Lay, O. P.

AU - LeDuigou, J. -M.

AU - Liseau, R.

AU - Malbet, F.

AU - Martin, S. R.

AU - Mawet, D.

AU - Mourard, D.

AU - Moutou, C.

AU - Mugnier, L. M.

AU - Ollivier, M.

AU - Paresce, F.

AU - Quirrenbach, A.

AU - Rabbia, Y. D.

AU - Raven, J. A.

AU - Rottgering, H. J. A.

AU - Rouan, D.

AU - Santos, N. C.

AU - Selsis, F.

AU - Serabyn, E.

AU - Shibai, H.

AU - Tamura, M.

AU - Thiebaut, E.

AU - Westall, F.

AU - White, G. J.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - 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 mu m), 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 CO2, H2O, CH4, 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.

AB - 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 mu m), 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 CO2, H2O, CH4, 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.

KW - Darwin

KW - Extrasolar planets

KW - Orbital telescopes

KW - M stars

KW - Earth-like planets

KW - Interferometry

KW - EARTH-LIKE PLANETS

KW - IN HABITABLE ZONES

KW - HIGH-RESOLUTION SIMULATIONS

KW - EJECTION CME ACTIVITY

KW - MAIN-SEQUENCE STARS

KW - MASS M-STARS

KW - NULLING INTERFEROMETERS

KW - SPECTRAL SIGNATURES

KW - SYNTHETIC SPECTRA

KW - TERRESTRIAL ATMOSPHERES

U2 - 10.1089/ast.2007.0227

DO - 10.1089/ast.2007.0227

M3 - Review article

SN - 1531-1074

VL - 9

SP - 1

EP - 22

JO - Astrobiology

JF - Astrobiology

IS - 1

ER -

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

Abstract

Keywords

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Astrophysics in St Andrews: Astrophysics in St Andrews / SUPA (Continuan of Rolling Grant - XPP089

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