Visible/infrared spectrometer for EChO

The Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory (EChO) is a medium class mission candidate within ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 program on space science. EChO will be equipped with a visible to infrared spectrometer covering the wavelength range from 0.4 - 11 μm (goal: 16 μm) at a spectral resolving power between 30 and 300 in order to characterize the atmospheres of known transiting extrasolar planets ranging from Hot Jupiters to Super Earths. In this paper we will present first results from the dedicated study of the EChO science payload carried out by our EChO Instrument Consortium during the assessment phase of the mission.