Project Blue: Visible Light Imaging Search for Terrestrial-class Exoplanets in the Habitable Zones of Alpha Centauri A and B

Jon Morse; Eduardo Bendek; Nathalie Cabrol; Franck Marchis; Margaret Turnbull; Supriya Chakrabarti; Debra Fischer; Colin Goldblatt; Olivier Guyon; Michael Hart; Jared Males; Jim Kasting

arXiv · 1803.04872

Project Blue: Visible Light Imaging Search for Terrestrial-class Exoplanets in the Habitable Zones of Alpha Centauri A and B

Jon Morse·Eduardo Bendek·Nathalie Cabrol·Franck Marchis·Margaret Turnbull·Supriya Chakrabarti·Debra Fischer·Colin Goldblatt·Olivier Guyon·Michael Hart·Jared Males·Jim Kasting

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Abstract

Project Blue is designed to deliver a small coronagraphic space telescope mission to low-Earth orbit capable of detecting an Earth-like planet in the habitable zones of the Sun-like stars Alpha Centauri A and B within the next 4 years within a Mission of Opportunity budget envelope. The concept heavily leverages emerging commercial capabilities -- including the telescope optics, spacecraft bus and launch vehicle -- and emphasizes a public-private partnership approach.

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Jon Morse, Eduardo Bendek, Nathalie Cabrol, Franck Marchis, Margaret Turnbull, Supriya Chakrabarti, Debra Fischer, Colin Goldblatt, Olivier Guyon, Michael Hart, Jared Males, Jim Kasting. 2018-03-13. Project Blue: Visible Light Imaging Search for Terrestrial-class Exoplanets in the Habitable Zones of Alpha Centauri A and B. https://arxiv.org/abs/1803.04872

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