Selection of a mirror technology for the 1.8-m Terrestrial Planet Finder demonstrator mission

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eri J. Cohen ◽  
Tony Hull
Keyword(s):  
Terrestrial Planet ◽  
Terrestrial Planet Finder ◽  
Selection Of

scholarly journals Photosynthetic Constraints on the Habitable Zone

2004 ◽  
Vol 213 ◽  
pp. 309-314
Author(s):  
Michael C. Storrie-Lombardi ◽  
A. I. Tsapin ◽  
G. D. Mcdonald ◽  
M. L. Coleman ◽  
V. S. Meadows
Keyword(s):  
Photosynthetic Activity ◽  
Nearest Neighbors ◽  
Terrestrial Planet ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Habitable Zone ◽  
Strong Indication ◽  
Terrestrial Planet Finder ◽  
Photosynthetic Microorganisms ◽  
Observation Times ◽  
Selection Of

The search for extraterrestrial habitable planets will require long observation times and the intelligent selection of appropriate parent stars and target biosignatures. While life can certainly develop in the absence of photosynthesis, such life forms on earth exhibit metabolic rates several orders of magnitude less than the activity accompanying a photosynthetic-driven ecosystem. The most accessible spectral biosignatures are those accompanying a system driven away from thermodynamic equilibrium by photosynthetic activity. For example, the co-existence in a planetary atmosphere of significant amounts of ozone, oxygen, and methane would be a strong indication of biotic activity. Investigating the issue of the Habitable Zone from the standpoint of the constraints inherent in photosynthesis it appears that the absorption characteristics of photosynthetic microorganisms on this planet make it likely that photosynthetic activity can exist on planets orbiting stars to red-ward of the Sun on the H-R diagram. Such a possibility is encouraging for terrestrial planet finder efforts since stars classified red-ward of our sun (G3 to K7) account for more than 55% of our nearest neighbors.

Outline of an optical design for Terrestrial Planet Finder

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charley Noecker ◽  
Brian K. McComas ◽  
Greg A. Kopp
Keyword(s):  
Optical Design ◽  
Terrestrial Planet ◽  
Terrestrial Planet Finder

Structural configuration for the Terrestrial Planet Finder structurally connected interferometer concept

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D. MacNeal ◽  
Douglas S. Adams ◽  
Curt A. Henry ◽  
Herbert G. Blackhall ◽  
John M. Cardone
Keyword(s):  
Terrestrial Planet ◽  
Structural Configuration ◽  
Terrestrial Planet Finder

scholarly journals Tabletop mid-infrared nulling testbed for the Keck interferometer and the Terrestrial Planet Finder

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher D. Koresko ◽  
Bertrand P. Mennesson ◽  
Samuel L. Crawford ◽  
Michelle J. Creech-Eakman ◽  
J. Kent Wallace ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Terrestrial Planet ◽  
Mid Infrared ◽  
Terrestrial Planet Finder
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