Detecting life outside our solar system with a large high-contrast-imaging mission

Snellen, Ignas A. G.Ignas A. G.SnellenSnik, F.F.SnikKenworthy, M.M.KenworthyAlbrecht, S.S.AlbrechtAnglada-Escudé, G.G.Anglada-EscudéBaraffe, I.I.BaraffeBaudoz, P.P.BaudozBenz, WillyWillyBenzBeuzit, J.-L.J.-L.BeuzitBiller, B.B.BillerBirkby, J. L.J. L.BirkbyBoccaletti, A.A.Boccalettivan Boekel, R.R.van Boekelde Boer, J.J.de BoerBrogi, MatteoMatteoBrogiBuchhave, L.L.BuchhaveCarone, L.L.CaroneClaire, M.M.ClaireClaudi, R.R.ClaudiDemory, Brice-Olivier DenysBrice-Olivier DenysDemory0000-0002-9355-5165Désert, J.-M.J.-M.DésertDesidera, S.S.DesideraGaudi, B. S.B. S.GaudiGratton, R.R.GrattonGillon, M.M.GillonGrenfell, J. L.J. L.GrenfellGuyon, O.O.GuyonHenning, T.T.HenningHinkley, S.S.HinkleyHuby, E.E.HubyJanson, M.M.JansonHelling, C.C.HellingHeng, K.K.HengKasper, M.M.KasperKeller, C. U.C. U.KellerKrause, O.O.KrauseKreidberg, L.L.KreidbergMadhusudhan, N.N.MadhusudhanLagrange, A.-M.A.-M.LagrangeLaunhardt, R.R.LaunhardtLenton, T. M.T. M.LentonLopez-Puertas, M.M.Lopez-PuertasMaire, A.-L.A.-L.MaireMayne, N.N.MayneMeadows, V.V.MeadowsMennesson, B.B.MennessonMicela, G.G.MicelaMiguel, Y.Y.MiguelMilli, J.J.MilliMin, M.M.Minde Mooij, E.E.de MooijMouillet, D.D.MouilletN’Diaye, M.M.N’DiayeD’Orazi, V.V.D’OraziPalle, E.E.PallePagano, I.I.PaganoPiotto, G.G.PiottoQueloz, D.D.QuelozRauer, H.H.RauerRibas, I.I.RibasRuane, G.G.RuaneSelsis, F.F.SelsisSozzetti, A.A.SozzettiStam, D.D.StamStark, C.C.C.C.StarkVigan, A.A.Vigande Visser, PieterPieterde Visser2024-10-092024-10-092022https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/69030In this White Paper, which was submitted in response to the European Space Agency (ESA) Voyage 2050 Call, we recommend the ESA 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.en500 - Science::520 - Astronomy600 - Technology::620 - EngineeringDetecting life outside our solar system with a large high-contrast-imaging missionarticle10.48350/16770510.1007/s10686-021-09803-y