ESA Voyage 2050 White Paper: Detecting life outside our solar system with a large high-contrast-imaging mission

Snellen, I.A.G.; Albrecht, S.; Anglada-Escude, G.; Baraffe, I.; Baudoz, P.; Benz, W.; ... ; Visser, P. de (2019)

Research paper

In this white paper, we recommend the European Space Agency plays a proactive role in developing a global collaborative effort to construct a large high-contrast imaging space telescope, e.g. as currently under study by NASA. Such a mission will be needed to characterize a sizable sample of temperate Earth-like planets in the habitable zones of nearby Sun-like stars and to search for extraterrestrial biological activity. We provide an overview of relevant European expertise, and advocate ESA to start a technology development program towards detecting life outside the Solar system.

• All authors: Snellen, I.A.G.; Albrecht, S.; Anglada-Escude, G.; Baraffe, I.; Baudoz, P.; Benz, W.; Beuzit, J.-L.; Biller, B.; Birkby, J.; Boccaletti, A.; Boekel, R. van; Boer, J. de; Brogi, M.; Buchhave, L.; Carone, L.; Claire, M.; Claudi, R.; Demory, B.-O.; Desert, J.-M.; Desidera, S.; Gaudi, S.; Gratton, R.; Gillon, M.; Grenfell, J.L.; Guyon, O.; Henning, T.; Hinkley, S.; Ruby, E.; Janson, M.; Helling, C.; Heng, K.; Kasper, M.; Keller, C.U.; Kenworthy, M.A.; Krause, O.; Kreidberg, L.; Madhusudhan, N.; Lagrange, A.-M.; Launhardt, R.; Lenton, T.; Lopez-Puertas, M.; Maire, A.-L.; Mayne, N.; Meadows, V.; Mennesson, B.; Micela, G.; Miguel, Y.; Milli, J.; Min, M.; Mooij, E. de; Mouillet, D.; N'Diaye, M.; D'Orazi, V.; Palle, E.; Pagano, I.; Piotto, G.; Queloz, D.; Rauer, H.; Ribas, I.; Ruane, G.; Selsis, F.; Snik, F.; Sozzetti, A.; Stam, D.; Stark, C.; Vigan, A.; Visser, P. de
• Date: 2019
• Title of host publication: ArXiv e-prints
• Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/1908.01803
• Name: 1908.01803