
Proceedings Paper
The maturing of high contrast imaging and starlight suppression techniques for future NASA exoplanet characterization missionsFormat | Member Price | Non-Member Price |
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Paper Abstract
Over 3000 exoplanets and hundreds of exoplanetary systems have been detected to date and we are now rapidly moving
toward an era where the focus is shifting from detection to direct imaging and spectroscopic characterization of these
new worlds and their atmospheres. NASA is currently studying several exoplanet characterization mission concepts for
the 2020 Decadal Survey ranging from probe class to flagships. Detailed and comprehensive exoplanet characterization,
particularly of exo-Earths, leading to assessment of habitability, or indeed detection of life, will require significant
advances beyond the current state-of-the-art in high contrast imaging and starlight suppression techniques which utilize
specially shaped precision optical elements to block the light from the parent star while controlling scattering and
diffraction thus revealing and enabling spectroscopic study of the orbiting exoplanets in reflected light. In this paper we
describe the two primary high contrast starlight suppression techniques currently being pursued by NASA: 1)
coronagraphs (including several design variations) and 2) free-flying starshades. These techniques are rapidly moving
from the technology development phase to the design and engineering phase and we discuss the prospects and projected
performance for future exoplanet characterization missions utilizing these techniques coupled with large aperture
telescopes in space.
Paper Details
Date Published: 29 July 2016
PDF: 13 pages
Proc. SPIE 9904, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave, 99041S (29 July 2016); doi: 10.1117/12.2231137
Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9904:
Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave
Howard A. MacEwen; Giovanni G. Fazio; Makenzie Lystrup; Natalie Batalha; Nicholas Siegler; Edward C. Tong, Editor(s)
PDF: 13 pages
Proc. SPIE 9904, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave, 99041S (29 July 2016); doi: 10.1117/12.2231137
Show Author Affiliations
Daniel R. Coulter, Jet Propulsion Lab. (United States)
David B. Gallagher, Jet Propulsion Lab. (United States)
Nicholas Siegler, Jet Propulsion Lab. (United States)
David B. Gallagher, Jet Propulsion Lab. (United States)
Nicholas Siegler, Jet Propulsion Lab. (United States)
Stuart Shaklan, Jet Propulsion Lab. (United States)
Karl Stapelfeldt, Jet Propulsion Lab. (United States)
Wesley A. Traub, Jet Propulsion Lab. (United States)
Karl Stapelfeldt, Jet Propulsion Lab. (United States)
Wesley A. Traub, Jet Propulsion Lab. (United States)
Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9904:
Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave
Howard A. MacEwen; Giovanni G. Fazio; Makenzie Lystrup; Natalie Batalha; Nicholas Siegler; Edward C. Tong, Editor(s)
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