Fast Infrared Exoplanet Spectroscopy Survey Explorer
Space observatory | |
Operator | NASA |
---|---|
Mission duration | 2 years |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 2023 (proposed Cape Canaveral Air Force Station |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Earth-Sun L2 (heliocentric) orbit |
Main spectrometer | |
Diameter | 70 cm |
Wavelengths | Infrared (0.5 - 5 μm) |
Resolution | λ/Δλ = 80 - 300 |
Fast Infrared Exoplanet Spectroscopy Survey Explorer (FINESSE) was a
FINESSE was one of three Medium-Class Explorers (MIDEX) mission concepts that received $2 million to conduct a nine-month mission concept study in August 2017.
Overview
FINESSE would have consisted of a
FINESSE was a candidate for NASA's next
While FINESSE was selected as finalist for the MIDEX mission, NASA also conditionally selected the CASE proposal as an Explorers Program Partner Mission of Opportunity (PMO).
In March 2018, ARIEL was selected by ESA for the fourth Cosmic Vision Medium class mission (M4).[7] Work on FINESSE was terminated as a result.[4] Although FINESSE did not ultimately receive a flight opportunity, its goals will likely be achieved by the 2028 ARIEL mission.
Science objectives
- Determine key aspects of the planet formation process. FINESSE would obtain the atmospheric composition measurements of metallicity and carbon/oxygen ratio.[1]
- Determine key factors that establish planetary climate. FINESSE measurements would determine planetary energy budgets from the dayside to the nightside.[1]
Principle
FINESSE would have measured the atmospheric light spectra of exoplanets transiting or eclipsing their parent star.[1] The proposed spectrometer functions in the infrared (0.5-5.0 μm). It would have used a 75 cm diameter primary mirror.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f FINESSE Mission to 500+ transiting exoplanets. NASA JPL. Accesses 1 October 2017
- ^ NASA - NASA Selects Science Investigations For Concept Studies, 29 September 2011.
- ^ a b c d "NASA Selects Proposals to Study Galaxies, Stars, Planets". NASA. 9 August 2017.
- ^ a b Hertz, Paul (22 October 2018). "NASA Astrophysics Update" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved 2019-02-17.
- ^ "NASA Selects New Mission to Explore Origins of Universe" (Press release). NASA. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
- ^ a b "FINESSE and ARIEL + CASE: Dedicated Transit Spectroscopy Missions for the Post-TESS Era" (PDF). NASA Cosmic Origins Program Analysis Group (COPAG). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
- ^ Science & Technology Portal staff (20 March 2018). "ESA's next science mission to focus on nature of exoplanets". ESA Science & Technology Portal. European Space Agency. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
Further reading and external links
- Old FINESSE website (inactive)
- Swain, M. R. (2010). Finesse - A New Mission Concept For Exoplanet Spectroscopy. American Astronomical Society. Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society. 42, p. 1064.
- Space.com - AAS Dispatch: Proposed Space Mission Would Probe Alien Atmospheres
- What is FINESSE ? - video