Академический Документы
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20 Jan 2006
We present the first in a series of four articles which look in detail at the different concepts
supporting the main themes of the Cosmic Vision - Space Science for Europe 2015-2025.
Theme 1 - What are the conditions for planet formation and the emergence of life?
A question that fascinates mankind is what was the succession of events after the Big Bang and the
formation of stars and galaxies, and under which conditions, that led to the origin of life on Earth?
Equally captivating is the question of whether life exists elsewhere in the Universe and, if so, in what
forms, on which kind of planets and linked to which type of stars.
We are now at a unique moment in human history. For the first time, we are able to build instruments
that allow us to investigate directly how unique the Earth is and whether or not we are alone in the
Universe. Discovering Earth's sisters and possibly life is the first step in the fundamental quest of
understanding what succession of events led to the emergence and survival of life on Earth. For this, we
need to know how, where and when stars form from gas and dust and how, where and when planets
emerge from this process. This is certainly one of the most important scientific goals that ESA and
Europe could set themselves.
2.
Investigate star-formation areas, proto-stars and protoplanetary discs and find out what kinds of host stars, in which
locations in the Galaxy, are the most favourable to the
formation of planets
Investigate the conditions for star formation and evolution
Mission Scenarios
1.
lensing event.
Goal
Search for planets around stars other than the Sun, looking for
biomarkers in their atmospheres, and image them
Concepts
1.
2.
3.
Mission Scenarios
1.
2.
2.
Mission Scenarios
1.
2.
3.