1. The Origins Space Telescope
- Author
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Leisawitz, D, Amatucci, E, Allen, L, Arenberg, Armus, L, Battersby, C, Beaman, J. B.G, Bauer, J, Bell, R, Beltran, P, Benford, D, Bergin, E, Bolognese, J, Bradford, C. M, Bradley, D, Burgarella, D, Carey, S, Carter, R, Chi, J. D, Cooray, A, Corsetti, J, D’Asto, T, Beck, E. De, Denis, K, Derkacz, C, Dewell, L, DiPirro, M, Earle, C.P, East, M, Edgington, S, Ennico, K, Fantano, L, Feller, G, Flores, A, Folta, D, Fortney, J, Gavares, B.J, Generie, J, Gerin, M, Granger, Z, Greene, T.P, Griffiths, A, Harpole, G, Harvey, K, Helmich, F, Helou, G, Hilliard, L, Howard, J, Jacoby, M, Jamil, A, Jamison, T, Kaltenegger, L, Kataria, T, Knight, J.S, Knollenberg, P, Lawrence, C, Lightsey, P, Lipscy, S, Lynch, C, Mamajek, E, Martins, G, Mather, J.C, Meixner, M, Melnick, G, Milam, S, Mooney, T, Moseley, S.H, Narayanan, D, Neff, S, Nguyen, T, Nordt, A, Olson, J, Padgett, D, Petach, M, Petro, S, Pohner, J, Pontoppidan, K, Pope, A, Ramspacker, D, Rao, A, Rieke, G, Rieke, M, Roellig, T, Sakon, I, Sandin, C, Sandstrom, K, Scott, D, Seals, L, Sheth, K, Staguhn, J, Steeves, J, Stevenson, K, Stokowski, L, Stoneking, E, Su, K, Tajdaran, K, Tompkins, S, Turner, J, Vieira, J, Webster, C, Wiedner, M, Wright, E.L, C.Wu, and Zmuidzinas, and J
- Subjects
Astronomy - Abstract
The Origins Space Telescope will trace the history of our origins from the time dust and heavy elements permanently altered the cosmic landscape to present-day life. How did galaxies evolve from the earliest galactic systems to those found in the universe today? How do habitable planets form? How common are life-bearing worlds? To answer these alluring questions, Origins will operate at mid- and far-infrared wavelengths and offer powerful spectroscopic instruments and sensitivity three orders of magnitude better than that of Herschel, the largest telescope flown in space to date. After a 3 ½ year study, the Origins Science and Technology Definition Team will recommend to the Decadal Survey a concept for Origins with a 5.9-m diameter telescope cryo cooled to 4.5 K and equipped with three scientific instruments. A mid-infrared instrument (MISC-T) will measure the spectra of transiting exoplanets in the 2.8 – 20 μm wavelength range and offer unprecedented sensitivity, enabling definitive biosignature detections. The Far-IR Imager Polarimeter (FIP) will be able to survey thousands of square degrees with broadband imaging at 50 and 250 μm. The Origins Survey Spectrometer (OSS) will cover wavelengths from 25 – 588 μm, make wide-area and deep spectroscopic surveys with spectral resolving power R ~ 300, and pointed observations at R ~ 40,000 and 300,000 with selectable instrument modes. Origins was designed to minimize complexity. The telescope has a Spitzer-like architecture and requires very few deployments after launch. The cryo-thermal system design leverages JWST technology and experience. A combination of current-state-of-the-art cryocoolers and next-generation detector technology will enable Origins’ natural background limited sensitivity.
- Published
- 2019