Ariel exoplanet survey mission greenlit by ESA

Scheduled to launch in 2029, Ariel will be the first mission that will study the chemical composition and thermal atmospheric properties of exoplanets as they transit distant stars. These measurements will be observed using a one-metre class cryogenic telescope that will operate at temperatures of 35-40 Kelvin (-238 to -233 Celsius), collecting visible and infrared light. An onboard guidance system will allow the telescope to focus on exoplanets with high precision, while a photometer and spectrometer will help detect the presence of clouds as well as the chemicals in the planets’ atmospheres.

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“Ariel will enable planetary science far beyond the boundaries of our own Solar System,” said Günther Hasinger, ESA’s Director of Science. “The adoption of Ariel cements ESA’s commitment to exoplanet research and will ensure European astronomers are at the forefront of this revolutionary field for the next decade and well beyond.”