Examinando por Autor "Cockell, Charles S."

Mostrando 1 - 7 de 7

Acceso Abierto
Future space experiment platforms for astrobiology and astrochemistry research
(npj Microgravity, 2023-06-12) Elsaesser, Andreas; Burr, David J.; Mabey, Paul; Urso, Riccardo Giovanni; Billi, Daniela; Cockell, Charles S.; Cottin, Hervé; Kish, Adrienne; Leys, Natalie; Van Loon, Jack J. W. A.; Mateo Marti, Eva; Moissl-Eichinger, Christine; Onofri, Silvano; Quinn, Richard C.; Rabbow, Elke; Rettberg, Petra; de la Torre Noetzel, Maria Rosa; Slenzka, Klaus; Ricco, Antonio J.; De Vera, Jean Pierre; Westall, Frances; European Space Agency (ESA)
Space experiments are a technically challenging but a scientifically important part of astrobiology and astrochemistry research. The International Space Station (ISS) is an excellent example of a highly successful and long-lasting research platform for experiments in space, that has provided a wealth of scientific data over the last two decades. However, future space platforms present new opportunities to conduct experiments with the potential to address key topics in astrobiology and astrochemistry. In this perspective, the European Space Agency (ESA) Topical Team Astrobiology and Astrochemistry (with feedback from the wider scientific community) identifies a number of key topics and summarizes the 2021 “ESA SciSpacE Science Community White Paper” for astrobiology and astrochemistry. We highlight recommendations for the development and implementation of future experiments, discuss types of in situ measurements, experimental parameters, exposure scenarios and orbits, and identify knowledge gaps and how to advance scientific utilization of future space-exposure platforms that are either currently under development or in an advanced planning stage. In addition to the ISS, these platforms include CubeSats and SmallSats, as well as larger platforms such as the Lunar Orbital Gateway. We also provide an outlook for in situ experiments on the Moon and Mars, and welcome new possibilities to support the search for exoplanets and potential biosignatures within and beyond our solar system.
Acceso Abierto
Impact of Simulated Martian Conditions on (Facultatively) Anaerobic Bacterial Strains from Different Mars Analogue Sites.
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2020-01-15) Beblo Vranesevic, K.; Bohmeier, M.; Schleumer, S.; Rabbow, Elke; Perras, A. K.; Moissl-Eichinger, Christine; Schwendner, P.; Cockell, Charles S.; Vannier, P.; Marteinsson, V. T.; Monaghan, E. P.; Riedo, A.; Ehrenfreund, P.; García Descalzo, L.; Gómez, Felipe; Malki, M.; Amils Pibernat, R.; Gaboyer, F.; Hickman-Lewis, K.; Westall, Frances; Cabezas, Patricia; Walter, N.; Rettberg, P.; Rettberg, P. [0000-0003-4439-2395]; García Descalzo, L. [0000-0002-0083-6786]; Cabezas, P. [0000-0002-6336-4093]; Marteinsson, V. [0000-0001-8340-821X]; Gómez, F. [0000-0001-9977-7060]
Five bacterial (facultatively) anaerobic strains, namely Buttiauxella sp. MASE-IM-9, Clostridium sp. MASE-IM-4, Halanaerobium sp. MASE-BB-1, Trichococcus sp. MASE-IM-5, and Yersinia intermedia MASE-LG-1 isolated from different extreme natural environments were subjected to Mars relevant environmental stress factors in the laboratory under controlled conditions. These stress factors encompassed low water activity, oxidizing compounds, and ionizing radiation. Stress tests were performed under permanently anoxic conditions. The survival rate after addition of sodium perchlorate (Na-perchlorate) was found to be species-specific. The inter-comparison of the five microorganisms revealed that Clostridium sp. MASE-IM-4 was the most sensitive strain (D-10-value (15 min, NaClO4) = 0.6 M). The most tolerant microorganism was Trichococcus sp. MASE-IM-5 with a calculated D-10-value (15 min, NaClO4) of 1.9 M. Cultivation in the presence of Na-perchlorate in Martian relevant concentrations up to 1 wt% led to the observation of chains of cells in all strains. Exposure to Na-perchlorate led to a lowering of the survival rate after desiccation. Consecutive exposure to desiccating conditions and ionizing radiation led to additive effects. Moreover, in a desiccated state, an enhanced radiation tolerance could be observed for the strains Clostridium sp. MASE-IM-4 and Trichococcus sp. MASE-IM-5. These data show that anaerobic micro-organisms from Mars analogue environments can resist a variety of Martian-simulated stresses either individually or in combination. However, responses were species-specific and some Mars-simulated extremes killed certain organisms. Thus, although Martian stresses would be expected to act differentially on microorganisms, none of the expected extremes tested here and found on Mars prevent the growth of anaerobic microorganisms.
Acceso Abierto
Limits of Life and the Habitability of Mars: The ESA Space Experiment BIOMEX on the ISS
(Mary Ann Liebert, 2019-02-11) De Vera, Jean Pierre; Alawi, Mashal; Backhaus, Theresa; Baqué, Mickael; Billi, Daniela; Böttger, Ute; Berger, T.; Bohmeier, M.; Cockell, Charles S.; Demets, René; de la Torre Noetzel, Maria Rosa; Edwards, Howell; Elsaesser, Andreas; Fagliarone, Claudia; Fiedler, Annelie; Foing, Bernard; Foucher, Frédéric; Fritz, Jörg; Hanke, Franziska; Herzog, Thomas; Horneck, Gerda; Hübers, Heinz-Wilhelm; Huwe, Björn; Joshi, Jasmin; Kozyrovska, Natalia; Kruchten, Martha; Lasch, Peter; Lee, Natuschka; Leuko, Stefan; Leya, Thomas; Lorek, Andreas; Martínez Frías, Jesús; Meessen, Joachim; Moritz, Sophie; Moeller, Ralf; Olsson-Francis, Karen; Onofri, Silvano; Ott, Sieglinde; Pacelli, Claudia; Podolich, Olga; Rabbow, Elke; Reitz, Günther; Rettberg, Petra; Reva, Oleg; Rothschild, Lynn; García Sancho, Leo; Schulze Makuch, D.; Selbmann, Laura; Serrano, Paloma; Szewzyk, Ulrich; Verseux, Cyprien; Wadsworth, Jennifer; Wagner, Dirk; Westall, Frances; Wolter, David; Zucconi, Laura; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO); Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI); Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI); National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU); German Centre for Air and Space Travel; Helmholtz Association
BIOMEX (BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment) is an ESA/Roscosmos space exposure experiment housed within the exposure facility EXPOSE-R2 outside the Zvezda module on the International Space Station (ISS). The design of the multiuser facility supports—among others—the BIOMEX investigations into the stability and level of degradation of space-exposed biosignatures such as pigments, secondary metabolites, and cell surfaces in contact with a terrestrial and Mars analog mineral environment. In parallel, analysis on the viability of the investigated organisms has provided relevant data for evaluation of the habitability of Mars, for the limits of life, and for the likelihood of an interplanetary transfer of life (theory of lithopanspermia). In this project, lichens, archaea, bacteria, cyanobacteria, snow/permafrost algae, meristematic black fungi, and bryophytes from alpine and polar habitats were embedded, grown, and cultured on a mixture of martian and lunar regolith analogs or other terrestrial minerals. The organisms and regolith analogs and terrestrial mineral mixtures were then exposed to space and to simulated Mars-like conditions by way of the EXPOSE-R2 facility. In this special issue, we present the first set of data obtained in reference to our investigation into the habitability of Mars and limits of life. This project was initiated and implemented by the BIOMEX group, an international and interdisciplinary consortium of 30 institutes in 12 countries on 3 continents. Preflight tests for sample selection, results from ground-based simulation experiments, and the space experiments themselves are presented and include a complete overview of the scientific processes required for this space experiment and postflight analysis. The presented BIOMEX concept could be scaled up to future exposure experiments on the Moon and will serve as a pretest in low Earth orbit.
Acceso Abierto
Subsurface robotic exploration for geomorphology, astrobiology and mining during MINAR6 campaign, Boulby Mine, UK: part I (Rover development).
(Cambridge University Press, 2020-04-05) Mathanlal, Thasshwin; Bhardwaj, Anshuman; Vakkada Ramachandran, A.; Zorzano, María-Paz; Martín Torres, Javier; Cockell, Charles S.; Edwards, T.; Martín Torres, J. [0000-0001-6479-2236]; Zorzano, M. P. [0000-0002-4492-9650]; Bhardwaj, A. [0000-0002-2502-6384]; Vakkada Ramachandran, A. [0000-0003-0499-6370]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Autonomous exploration requires the use of movable platforms that carry a payload of instruments with a certain level of autonomy and communication with the operators. This is particularly challenging in subsurface environments, which may be more dangerous for human access and where communication with the surface is limited. Subsurface robotic exploration, which has been to date very limited, is interesting not only for science but also for cost-effective industrial exploitation of resources and safety assessments in mines. Furthermore, it has a direct application to exploration of extra-terrestrial subsurface environments of astrobiological and geological significance such as caves, lava tubes, impact or volcanic craters and subglacial conduits, for deriving in-situ mineralogical resources and establishing preliminary settlements. However, the technological solutions are generally tailor-made and are therefore considered as costly, fragile and environment-specific, further hindering their extensive and effective applications. To demonstrate the advantages of rover exploration for a broad-community, we have developed KORE (KOmpact Rover for Exploration); a low-cost, re-usable, rover multi-purpose platform. The rover platform has been developed as a technological demonstration for extra-terrestrial subsurface exploration and terrestrial mining operations pertaining to geomorphological mapping, environmental monitoring, gas leak detections and search and rescue operations in case of an accident. The present paper, the first part of a series of two, focuses on describing the development of a robust rover platform to perform dedicated geomorphological, astrobiological and mining tasks. KORE was further tested in the Mine Analogue Research 6 (MINAR6) campaign during September 2018 in the Boulby mine (UK), the second deepest potash mine in Europe at a subsurface depth of 1.1 km, the results of which will be presented in the second paper of this series. KORE is a large, semi-autonomous rover weighing 160 kg with L x W x H dimensions 1.2 m x 0.8 m x 1 m and a payload carrying capacity of 100 kg using 800 W traction power that can power to a maximum speed of 8.4 km h(-1). The rover can be easily dismantled in three parts facilitating its transportation to any chosen site of exploration. Presently, the main scientific payloads on KORE are: (1) a three-dimensional mapping camera, (2) a methane detection system, (3) an environmental station capable of monitoring temperature, relative humidity, pressure and gases such as NO2, SO2, H2S, formaldehyde, CO, CO2, O-3, O(2,)volatile organic compounds and particulates and (4) a robotic arm. Moreover, the design of the rover allows for integration of more sensors as per the scientific requirements in future expeditions. At the MINAR6 campaign, the technical readiness of KORE was demonstrated during 6 days of scientific research in the mine, with a total of 22 h of operation.
Acceso Abierto
Subsurface robotic exploration for geomorphology, astrobiology and mining during MINAR6 campaign, Boulby Mine, UK: part II (Results and Discussion)
(Cambridge University Press, 2021-01-07) Mathanlal, Thasshwin; Bhardwaj, Anshuman; Vakkada Ramachandran, A.; Zorzano, María-Paz; Martín Torres, Javier; Cockell, Charles S.; Zorzano, M. P. [0000-0002-4492-9650]; Bhardwaj, A. [0000-0002-2502-6384]; Martín Torres, J. [0000-0001-6479-2236]; Unidad de Excelencia Científica María de Maeztu Centro de Astrobiología del Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial y CSIC, MDM-2017-0737
Geomorphological studies of the hidden and protected subsurface environments are crucial to obtain a greater insight into the evolution of planetary landforms, hydrology, climate, geology and mineralogy. From an astrobiological point of view subsurface environments are of interest for their potential habitability as they are local environments that are partially or fully shielded from the high levels of space and solar radiation. Furthermore, in the case of Mars, there is an increasing interest in searching for the presence of past or extant life in its subsurface. These applications make it mandatory to investigate equipment and instrumentation that allow for the study of subsurface geomorphology, as well as organic chemical biomarkers, such as biomolecules, carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotopes, and other biologically significant minerals and gases. Mines on Earth can be used as analogues to investigate the geomorphology of Martian subsurface environments and perform astrobiology studies. With that goal, we have developed a low-cost, robust, remotely operable subsurface rover called KORE (KOmpact Rover for Exploration). This work illustrates the studies of a terrestrial analogue for the exploration of Mars using KORE during the Mine Analogue Research 6 (MINAR 6) campaign with the low-cost 3D mapping technology InXSpace 3D (In situ 3D mapping tool eXploration of space 3D). InXSpace 3D utilizes an RGB-D camera that captures depth information in addition to the RGB data of an image, operating based on the structured light principle capable of providing depth information in mm scale resolution at sub 3 m mapping range. InXSpace 3D is used to capture point clouds of natural and artificial features, thereby obtaining information about geologically relevant structures and also to incorporate them in earth mining safety. We tested two of the dense simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithms: Kintinuous and Real-Time Appearance-Based Mapping (RTAB-Map) to check the performance of InXSpace 3D in a dark mine environment. Also, the air accumulation of volatiles such as methane and formaldehyde due to thermogenic and mining process was measured with the environmental station payload on the rover platform, which caters to both astrobiological significance and mine safety. The main conclusions of this work are: (1) a comparison made between the RTAB-Map algorithm and Kintinuous algorithm showed the superiority of Kintinuous algorithm in providing better 3D reconstruction; although RTAB-Map algorithm captured more points than the Kintinuous algorithm in the dark mine environment; (2) a comparison of point cloud images captured with and without lighting conditions had a negligible effect on the surface density of the point clouds; (3) close-range imaging of the polygonal features occurring on the halite walls using InXSpace 3D provided mm-scale resolution to enable further characterization; (4) heuristic algorithms to quickly post-process the 3D point cloud data provided encouraging results for preliminary analyses; (5) we successfully demonstrated the application of KORE to mine safety; and (6) the multi-sensors platform on KORE successfully monitored the accumulated volatiles in the mine atmosphere during its operation. The findings obtained during this KORE campaign could be incorporated in designing and planning future subsurface rover explorations to potential planetary bodies such as Mars with synergistic applications to subsurface environments in mines on Earth.
Acceso Abierto
Taxonomic and functional analyses of intact microbial communities thriving in extreme, astrobiology-relevant, anoxic sites
(Spring Nature Research Journals, 2021-02-18) Kristin Bashir, A.; Wink, L.; Duller, S.; Schwendner, P.; Cockell, Charles S.; Rettberg, P.; Mahnert, A.; Beblo Vranesevic, K.; Bohmeier, M.; Rabbow, Elke; Gaboyer, F.; Westall, Frances; Walter, N.; Cabezas, Patricia; García Descalzo, L.; Gómez, Felipe; Malki, M.; Amils Pibernat, R.; Ehrenfreund, P.; Monaghan, E. P.; Vannier, P.; Marteinsson, V. T.; Erlacher, A.; Tanski, G.; Strauss, J.; Bashir, M.; Riedo, A.; Moissl-Eichinger, Christine; European Commission (EC); Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF); Moissi Eichinger, C. [0000-0001-6755-6263]
Extreme terrestrial, analogue environments are widely used models to study the limits of life and to infer habitability of extraterrestrial settings. In contrast to Earth’s ecosystems, potential extraterrestrial biotopes are usually characterized by a lack of oxygen. In the MASE project (Mars Analogues for Space Exploration), we selected representative anoxic analogue environments (permafrost, salt-mine, acidic lake and river, sulfur springs) for the comprehensive analysis of their microbial communities. We assessed the microbiome profile of intact cells by propidium monoazide-based amplicon and shotgun metagenome sequencing, supplemented with an extensive cultivation effort. The information retrieved from microbiome analyses on the intact microbial community thriving in the MASE sites, together with the isolation of 31 model microorganisms and successful binning of 15 high-quality genomes allowed us to observe principle pathways, which pinpoint specific microbial functions in the MASE sites compared to moderate environments. The microorganisms were characterized by an impressive machinery to withstand physical and chemical pressures. All levels of our analyses revealed the strong and omnipresent dependency of the microbial communities on complex organic matter. Moreover, we identified an extremotolerant cosmopolitan group of 34 poly-extremophiles thriving in all sites. Our results reveal the presence of a core microbiome and microbial taxonomic similarities between saline and acidic anoxic environments. Our work further emphasizes the importance of the environmental, terrestrial parameters for the functionality of a microbial community, but also reveals a high proportion of living microorganisms in extreme environments with a high adaptation potential within habitability borders.
Acceso Abierto
The EChO science case
(Springer Link, 2015-11-29) Tinetti, G.; Drossart, P.; Eccleston, P.; Hartogh, P.; Isaak, K.; Linder, M.; Lovis, C.; Micela, G.; Olliver, M.; Puig, L.; Ribas, I.; Sicardy, B.; Kehoe, T.; Deeg, H.; Petrov, R.; Doel, P.; Tennyson, J.; Filacchione, G.; Varley, R.; Temple, J.; Lahav, O.; MacTavish, C.; Wisniowski, T.; Piccioni, G.; Guàrdia, J.; Cavarroc, C.; Jones, G.; Ade, P.; Sanromá, E.; Frith, J.; Lognonné, P.; Pantin, E.; Crook, J.; Colomé, J.; Allard, F.; Azzollini, R.; Burston, R.; Parviainen, H.; Malaguti, G.; Gerard, J. C.; Stamper, R.; Barrado, D.; Maldonado, J.; Morales, J. C.; Yurchenko, S. N.; Lagage, P. O.; Prinja, R.; Koskinen, T.; Waldmann, I.; Venot, O.; Heiter, U.; Lim, T.; Pace, E.; Moya Bedon, A.; Irwin, P.; Michaut, C.; Monteiro, M.; Jones, H.; Wawer, P.; Fouqué, P.; Widemann, T.; Alonso Floriano, F. J.; Eiroa, C.; Savini, G.; Stixrude, L.; Damasso, M.; Rataj, M.; Glasse, A.; Koskinen, T.; Bulgarelli, A.; Ciaravella, A.; Hollis, M.; Schmider, F. X.; Kerschbaum, F.; Licandro Goldaracena, J.; Claret, A.; Rocchetto, M.; López Valverde, Miguel Ángel; Fossey, S.; Leto, G.; Ramos Zapata, G.; Beaulieu, J. P.; Balado, A.; Luzzi, D.; Rebordao, J.; Encrenaz, T.; Adriani, A.; Alcala, J.; Guedel, M.; Morales Calderón, M.; Peña Ramírez, K. Y.; Herrero, Enrique; Focardi, M.; Montalto, M.; Wright, G.; Danielski, C.; Burleigh, M. R.; Medvedev, A.; Murgas Alcaino, F.; Chadney, J.; Bowles, N.; Maxted, Pierre; Kerschbaum, F.; Ward Thompson, D.; Laken, B.; Börne, P.; Christian Jessen, N.; Dominic, C.; López Morales, M.; Miles Paez, P.; Achilleos, N.; Biondi, D.; White, G.; Heredero, R. L.; De Kok, R.; Frith, J.; Grodent, D.; Rank Lüftinger, T.; Scholz, A.; Villaver, E.; Dobrijévic, M.; Alard, C.; Demangeon, O. D. S.; De Witt, J.; Machado, P.; Cordier, D.; Charnoz, S.; Rodler, F.; Gerard, J. C.; Sousa, S. G.; Viti, S.; Cole, R.; Blecka, M.; Barber, R. J.; Middleton, K.; Griffin, M.; Giro, E.; Cho, J.; Covino, E.; Turrini, D.; Moro Martín, A.; Decin, L.; Ramos, A. A.; Schrader, J. R.; Massi, F.; Abe, L.; Mauskopf, P.; Batista, V.; Agnor, C.; Bordé, P.; Fabrizio, N.; Bakos, G.; Rengel, M.; Gustin, J.; Hueso, R.; Fernández Hernández, Maite; Ray, T.; Claudi, R.; Femenía Castella, B.; Rebolo, R.; Sethenadh, J.; Luntzer, A.; Mueller Wodarg, I.; Delgado Mena, E.; Brown, L.; De Sio, A.; González Hernández, J.; Selsis, F.; Leconte, J.; Del Vecchio, C.; Budaj, J.; Scandariato, G.; Pagano, I.; García Piquer, A.; Guillot, T.; Terenzi, L.; Tabernero, H. M.; Forget, F.; Hargrave, P.; North, C.; Heyrovsky, D.; Cerulli, R.; Adybekian, V.; Read, P.; Pinsard, Frederic; Parmentier, V.; Collura, A.; Hubert, B.; Lanza, N.; Graczyk, R.; Fouqué, P.; Giuranna, M.; Valdivieso, M. L.; Pérez Hoyos, S.; Andersen, A.; Mall, U.; Buchhave, L. A.; Yelle, R.; Rickman, H.; Ballerini, P.; Affer, L.; Maruquette, J. B.; Sánchez Béjar, V. J.; Nelson, Richard; Fletcher, L.; Radioti, A.; Turrini, D.; Montes, D.; Gizon, L.; Galand, M.; Gómez, H.; Eymet, V.; Esposito, M.; Smith, A.; Morello, G.; Allende Prieto, C.; Justtanot, K.; Bryson, I.; Pallé, E.; Amado, P. J.; Figueira, P.; Shore, Steven; Focardi, M.; Strazzulla, G.; Giani, E.; Pietrzak, R.; González Merino, B.; Lo Cicero, Ugo; Gaulme, P.; Sozzetti, A.; Femenía Castella, B.; Maillard, J. P.; Cabral, A.; Iro, N.; Magnes, W.; Pinfield, David J.; Swain, M.; Showman, A.; Bellucci, G.; Kerins, E.; Maurin, A. S.; Poretti, E.; Boisse, I.; Barton, E. J.; Kervella, P.; Guio, P.; Norgaard Nielsen, H. U.; Bézard, B.; Montañés Rodríguez, P.; Banaszkiewicz, M.; Kovács, G.; Baffa, C.; Del Val Borro, M.; Belmonte Avilés, J. A.; Palla, F.; Hersant, F.; Correira, A.; Yung, Y.; Cockell, Charles S.; Vinatier, S.; Pilat Lohinger, E.; Krupp, N.; Orton, G.; Vakili, F.; Pezzuto, S.; Di Giorgio, A.; Waltham, D.; Testi, L.; Stiepen, A.; Deroo, P.; Capria, M. T.; Eales, S.; Irshad, R.; Stolarski, M.; Zapatero Osorio, M. R.; Swinyard, B.; Griffith, C.; Winek, W.; Bouy, H.; Thompson, S.; Maggio, A.; Moses, J.; Liu, S. J.; Lithgow Bertelloni, C.; Coudé du Foresto, V.; Martín Torres, Javier; Fletcher, L.; Barlow, M.; Coustenis, A.; Berry, D.; López Puertas, M.; Banaszkiewicz, M.; Lundgaard Rasmussen, I.; Hoogeveen, Ruud; Morais, H.; Watkins, C.; Oliva, E.; Scuderi, S.; Aylward, A.; Bonford, B.; Sitek, P.; Haigh, J.; Prisinzano, L.; Soret, L.; Wawrzaszk, A.; Lammer, H.; Figueira, P.; Gianotti, F.; Readorn, K.; Tanga, P.; Israelian, G.; Gesa, L.; Peralta, J.; Gómez Leal, I.; Cassan, A.; Tecsa, M.; Tessenyi, M.; Pancrazzi, M.; Coates, A.; Gambicorti, L.; Gear, W.; Winter, B.; Piskunov, N.; Álvarez Iglesias, C. A.; Polichtchouk, I.; Altieri, F.; Ottensamer, R.; Watson, D.; Rezac, L.; Vandenbussche, B.; Waters, R.; Dorfi, E.; Morgante, G.; Pascale, E.; Hornstrup, A.; Snellen, Ignas; Lodieu, N.; Lellouch, E.; Espinoza Contreras, M.; Jarchow, C.; Agúndez, Marcelino; Filacchione, G.; Abreu, M.; Grassi, D.; Tingley, B. W.; Sánchez Lavega, Agustín; Tozzi, A.; Sanz Forcada, J.; Kipping, D.; Chamberlain, S.; Trifoglio, M.; Barstow, J. K.; Santos, Nuno C.; Gillon, M.; Hébrard, E.; Cecchi Pestellini, C.; Fossey, S.; García López, Ramón; Thrastarson, H.; Rees, J. M.; Selig, A.; Galand, M.; Jacquemoud, S.; Branduardi Raymont, Graziella; Rebordao, J. [0000-0002-7418-0345]; Kerschbaum, F. [0000-0001-6320-0980]; Abreu, M. [0000-0002-0716-9568]; Tabernero, H. [0000-0002-8087-4298]; López Puertas, M. [0000-0003-2941-7734]; Jacquemoud, S. [0000-0002-1500-5256]; Tennyson, J. [0000-0002-4994-5238]; Focardi, M. [0000-0002-3806-4283]; Leto, G. [0000-0002-0040-5011]; Lodieu, N. [0000-0002-3612-8968]; Tinetti, G. [0000-0001-6058-6654]; Danielski, C. [0000-0002-3729-2663]; Hornstrup, A. [0000-0002-3363-0936]; Kervella, P. [0000-0003-0626-1749]; Sánchez Bejar, V. [0000-0002-5086-4232]; López Heredero, R. [0000-0002-2197-8388]; Sanz Forcada, J. [0000-0002-1600-7835]; Rickman, H. [0000-0002-9603-6619]; Maggio, A. [0000-0001-5154-6108]; Medved, A. [0000-0003-2713-8977]; Tinetti, G. [0000-0001-6058-6654]; Fletcher, L. [0000-0001-5834-9588]; Haigh, J. [0000-0001-5504-4754]; Bakos, G. [0000-0001-7204-6727]; Stixrude, L. [0000-0003-3778-2432]; Amado, P. J. [0000-0002-8388-6040]; Martín Torres, J. [0000-0001-6479-2236]; Correira, A. [0000-0002-8946-8579]; Yurchenko, S. [0000-0001-9286-9501]; Rataj, M. [0000-0002-2978-9629]; Guedel, M. [0000-0001-9818-0588]; Piskunov, N. [0000-0001-5742-7767]; Filacchione, G. [0000-0001-9567-0055]; Adibekyan, V. [0000-0002-0601-6199]; Budaj, J. [0000-0002-9125-7340]; Poretti, E. [0000-0003-1200-0473]; Pascale, E. [0000-0002-3242-8154]; Claudi, R. [0000-0001-7707-5105]; Piccioni, G. [0000-0002-7893-6808]; Ribas, I. [0000-0002-6689-0312]; Sanroma, E. [0000-0001-8859-7937]; Agundez, M. [0000-0003-3248-3564]; Montes, D. [0000-0002-7779-238X]; Lognonne, P. [0000-0002-1014-920X]; Abreu, M. [0000-0002-0716-9568]; Montes, D. [0000-0002-7779-238X]; Morais, M. H. [0000-0001-5333-2736]; Tanga, P. [0000-0002-2718-997X]; Peralta, J. [0000-0002-6823-1695]; Hueso, R. [0000-0003-0169-123X]; Leto, G. [0000-0002-0040-5011]; Morales, J. C. [0000-0003-0061-518X]; Pérez Hoyos, S. [0000-0002-2587-4682]; Santos, N. [0000-0003-4422-2919]; Lithgow Bertelloni, C. [0000-0003-0924-6587]; Delgado, M. E. [0000-0003-4434-2195]; Barlow, M. [0000-0002-3875-1171]; Deeg, H. [0000-0003-0047-4241]; Bouy, H. [0000-0002-7084-487X[; Grassi, D. [0000-0003-1653-3066]; Figueira, P. [0000-0001-8504-283X]; Barton, E. [0000-0001-5945-9244]; Coates, A. [0000-0002-6185-3125]; García Ramón, J. [0000-0002-8204-6832]; Watson, D. [0000-0002-4465-8264]; Morales Calderon, M. 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[0000-0001-9234-7412]; Pena Ramírez, K. [0000-0002-5855-401X]; Galand, M. [0000-0001-5797-914X]; Pace, E. [0000-0001-5870-1772]; Pilat Lohinger, E. [0000-0002-5292-1923]; Sánchez Lavega, A. [0000-0001-7234-7634]; Waldmann, I. [0000-0002-4205-5267]; Claret, A. [0000-0002-4045-8134]; Olivia, E. [0000-0002-9123-0412]; Kovacs, G. [0000-0002-2365-2330]; Gómez, H. [0000-0003-3398-0052]; Monteiro, M. [0000-0001-5644-0898]; Bellucci, G. [0000-0003-0867-8679]; Baffa, C. [0000-0002-4935-100X]; Scholz, A. [0000-0001-8993-5053]; Bezard, B. [0000-0002-5433-5661]; Scuderi, Salvatore [0000-0002-8637-2109]; Hersant, F. [0000-0002-2687-7500]; Maldonado, J. [0000-0002-4282-1072]; Gear, W. [0000-0001-6789-6196]; Sousa, S. [0000-0001-9047-2965]; Irwin, P. [0000-0002-6772-384X]; Pinfield, D. [0000-0002-7804-4260]; Kipping, D. [0000-0002-4365-7366]; Ade, P. [0000-0002-5127-0401]; Vandenbussche, B. [0000-0002-1368-3109]; Burleigh, M. [0000-0003-0684-7803]; Chadney, J. [0000-0002-5174-2114]; Moro Martín, A. [0000-0001-9504-8426]; Scandariato, G. [0000-0003-2029-0626]; Rodríguez, P. [0000-0002-6855-9682]; Maldonado, J. [0000-0002-2218-5689]; Michaut, C. [0000-0002-2578-0117]; Pérez Hoyos, S. [0000-0001-9797-4917]
The discovery of almost two thousand exoplanets has revealed an unexpectedly diverse planet population. We see gas giants in few-day orbits, whole multi-planet systems within the orbit of Mercury, and new populations of planets with masses between that of the Earth and Neptune—all unknown in the Solar System. Observations to date have shown that our Solar System is certainly not representative of the general population of planets in our Milky Way. The key science questions that urgently need addressing are therefore: What are exoplanets made of? Why are planets as they are? How do planetary systems work and what causes the exceptional diversity observed as compared to the Solar System? The EChO (Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory) space mission was conceived to take up the challenge to explain this diversity in terms of formation, evolution, internal structure and planet and atmospheric composition. This requires in-depth spectroscopic knowledge of the atmospheres of a large and well-defined planet sample for which precise physical, chemical and dynamical information can be obtained. In order to fulfil this ambitious scientific program, EChO was designed as a dedicated survey mission for transit and eclipse spectroscopy capable of observing a large, diverse and well-defined planet sample within its 4-year mission lifetime. The transit and eclipse spectroscopy method, whereby the signal from the star and planet are differentiated using knowledge of the planetary ephemerides, allows us to measure atmospheric signals from the planet at levels of at least 10−4 relative to the star. This can only be achieved in conjunction with a carefully designed stable payload and satellite platform. It is also necessary to provide broad instantaneous wavelength coverage to detect as many molecular species as possible, to probe the thermal structure of the planetary atmospheres and to correct for the contaminating effects of the stellar photosphere. This requires wavelength coverage of at least 0.55 to 11 μm with a goal of covering from 0.4 to 16 μm. Only modest spectral resolving power is needed, with R ~ 300 for wavelengths less than 5 μm and R ~ 30 for wavelengths greater than this. The transit spectroscopy technique means that no spatial resolution is required. A telescope collecting area of about 1 m2 is sufficiently large to achieve the necessary spectro-photometric precision: for the Phase A study a 1.13 m2 telescope, diffraction limited at 3 μm has been adopted. Placing the satellite at L2 provides a cold and stable thermal environment as well as a large field of regard to allow efficient time-critical observation of targets randomly distributed over the sky. EChO has been conceived to achieve a single goal: exoplanet spectroscopy. The spectral coverage and signal-to-noise to be achieved by EChO, thanks to its high stability and dedicated design, would be a game changer by allowing atmospheric composition to be measured with unparalleled exactness: at least a factor 10 more precise and a factor 10 to 1000 more accurate than current observations. This would enable the detection of molecular abundances three orders of magnitude lower than currently possible and a fourfold increase from the handful of molecules detected to date. Combining these data with estimates of planetary bulk compositions from accurate measurements of their radii and masses would allow degeneracies associated with planetary interior modelling to be broken, giving unique insight into the interior structure and elemental abundances of these alien worlds. EChO would allow scientists to study exoplanets both as a population and as individuals. The mission can target super-Earths, Neptune-like, and Jupiter-like planets, in the very hot to temperate zones (planet temperatures of 300–3000 K) of F to M-type host stars. The EChO core science would be delivered by a three-tier survey. The EChO Chemical Census: This is a broad survey of a few-hundred exoplanets, which allows us to explore the spectroscopic and chemical diversity of the exoplanet population as a whole. The EChO Origin: This is a deep survey of a subsample of tens of exoplanets for which significantly higher signal to noise and spectral resolution spectra can be obtained to explain the origin of the exoplanet diversity (such as formation mechanisms, chemical processes, atmospheric escape). The EChO Rosetta Stones: This is an ultra-high accuracy survey targeting a subsample of select exoplanets. These will be the bright “benchmark” cases for which a large number of measurements would be taken to explore temporal variations, and to obtain two and three dimensional spatial information on the atmospheric conditions through eclipse-mapping techniques. If EChO were launched today, the exoplanets currently observed are sufficient to provide a large and diverse sample. The Chemical Census survey would consist of > 160 exoplanets with a range of planetary sizes, temperatures, orbital parameters and stellar host properties. Additionally, over the next 10 years, several new ground- and space-based transit photometric surveys and missions will come on-line (e.g. NGTS, CHEOPS, TESS, PLATO), which will specifically focus on finding bright, nearby systems. The current rapid rate of discovery would allow the target list to be further optimised in the years prior to EChO’s launch and enable the atmospheric characterisation of hundreds of planets.