ESA begins work on a new spacecraft to study exoplanets

The European Space Agency (ESA) has begun work on its brand new telescope: a detection mission called Ariel that will study the chemical composition of hot and hot exoplanets.

Ariel, the Large-Survey on large exoplanets in atmospheric infrared, will be launched into orbit from where it will study up to 1,000 exoplanets, observing them both in visible light and in the infrared wavelength. This will allow scientists to determine the chemical composition of planets and their thermal structures, which will provide insight into what exoplanets are made of, how planets are formed, and how their atmospheres evolve over time.

“With Ariel, we will take the characterization of exoplanets to the next level by studying these distant worlds both as individuals and, importantly, as populations, in much more detail than ever,” said Göran Pilbratt, ESA scientist Ariel.

ESA has been studying the Ariel concept since it was chosen in 2018 as part of the Cosmic Vision program, which plans future ESA missions. With the study complete, the implementation phase now begins and a contractor will be chosen to build the spacecraft. The plan is to launch Ariel in 2029, using an Ariane 6 rocket from the European spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana. It will initially be a four-year mission.

This follows the successful launch of ESA’s CHEOPS satellite, which also studies exoplanets to find out more about their size, mass and composition. CHEOPS has already made some wild discoveries about exoplanets and will soon be joined by PLATO, ESA’s planet-hunting telescope slated for launch in 2026. ESA scientists hope Ariel can complete these tools by focusing on hot planets and stars orbiting near their host stars.

Studying distant planets can help better understand our region of space, according to Theresa Lueftinger, ESA’s Ariel project scientist: “Our chemical census of hundreds of solar systems will help us understand each planet in the context of the chemical environment. and the composition of the guest star, in turn helping us to better understand our cosmic neighborhood.

Now, ESA will accept offers from contractors to build the spacecraft and expects to choose a contractor by the summer of next year.

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