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Large Interferometer For Exoplanets
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Large Interferometer For Exoplanets
Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE) is a proposed space mission concept designed to detect and characterize the atmospheres of Earth-like exoplanets using mid-infrared interferometry. The mission concept is based on a formation-flying space interferometer that would directly observe terrestrial exoplanets around nearby stars and search for atmospheric biosignatures. The project was initiated in 2017 by an international collaboration led by ETH Zurich and involves scientists and engineers from multiple institutions and countries.
The mission concept focuses on conducting a large atmospheric survey of terrestrial exoplanets in the solar neighborhood and studying planetary habitability, atmospheric composition, and potential biosignatures.
The LIFE mission concept consists of five spacecraft flying in formation and operating together as a mid-infrared nulling interferometer. Four spacecraft arranged in a plane collect the incoming light and redirect it to the fifth spacecraft, which combines the light beams. The interferometer suppresses the light from a host star while allowing the much fainter thermal emission from orbiting planets to be detected and analyzed spectroscopically.
The mission would operate in the mid-infrared wavelength range, where terrestrial planets emit thermal radiation and where selected atmospheric molecules show strong spectral features. The interferometer baseline would be adjustable to optimize planet detection and atmospheric characterization.
The mission architecture builds on earlier space interferometer concepts such as ESA's Darwin and NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder Interferometer (TPF-I), but incorporates updated technology developments, improved detection yield estimates, and modern formation-flying capabilities.
The main scientific objective of the LIFE mission is the detection and atmospheric characterization of terrestrial exoplanets, particularly planets located in the habitable zones of nearby stars.
Key scientific objectives include:
Simulations indicate that a large mid-infrared space interferometer could detect and characterize dozens of terrestrial exoplanets, enabling comparative exoplanetology beyond the Solar System.
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Large Interferometer For Exoplanets
Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE) is a proposed space mission concept designed to detect and characterize the atmospheres of Earth-like exoplanets using mid-infrared interferometry. The mission concept is based on a formation-flying space interferometer that would directly observe terrestrial exoplanets around nearby stars and search for atmospheric biosignatures. The project was initiated in 2017 by an international collaboration led by ETH Zurich and involves scientists and engineers from multiple institutions and countries.
The mission concept focuses on conducting a large atmospheric survey of terrestrial exoplanets in the solar neighborhood and studying planetary habitability, atmospheric composition, and potential biosignatures.
The LIFE mission concept consists of five spacecraft flying in formation and operating together as a mid-infrared nulling interferometer. Four spacecraft arranged in a plane collect the incoming light and redirect it to the fifth spacecraft, which combines the light beams. The interferometer suppresses the light from a host star while allowing the much fainter thermal emission from orbiting planets to be detected and analyzed spectroscopically.
The mission would operate in the mid-infrared wavelength range, where terrestrial planets emit thermal radiation and where selected atmospheric molecules show strong spectral features. The interferometer baseline would be adjustable to optimize planet detection and atmospheric characterization.
The mission architecture builds on earlier space interferometer concepts such as ESA's Darwin and NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder Interferometer (TPF-I), but incorporates updated technology developments, improved detection yield estimates, and modern formation-flying capabilities.
The main scientific objective of the LIFE mission is the detection and atmospheric characterization of terrestrial exoplanets, particularly planets located in the habitable zones of nearby stars.
Key scientific objectives include:
Simulations indicate that a large mid-infrared space interferometer could detect and characterize dozens of terrestrial exoplanets, enabling comparative exoplanetology beyond the Solar System.