Aetheras: Characterising exoplanetary atmospheric escape with NIR and UV spectroscopy
Acta Astronautica, vol. 238, pp. 300–319
Abstract
To date, many exoplanets have been discovered which exhibit distinct characteristics not observed within our own Solar System, raising numerous unresolved questions regarding their compositions, atmospheres, formation processes, and evolutionary pathways. Several missions have been dedicated to enhance the understanding of the exoplanets like James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes. However, they have a limited spectral range and resolution to allow for a complete characterisation of atmospheric dynamics. The Aetheras mission proposal was developed at the Summer School Alpbach 2023 and presents a satellite mission to overcome these limitations to better understand the formation, evolution and characteristics of exoplanets. This mission aims to unravel key enigmas in contemporary exoplanetary research by investigating atmospheric escape mechanisms and measuring proxies of magnetic fields’ influence on atmospheric loss. Focusing on objects in the Radius Valley and the Hot Neptune desert, the mission seeks to discover their origins. By defining mission needs and designing a potential instrument based on derived requirements, a space mission architecture is envisioned to fulfil the proposed mission objectives. A spacecraft design has been made with top down systems engineering approach. Employing transit spectroscopy in the near-infrared range (1070 nm to 1090 nm) and ultraviolet range (115 nm to 285 nm) outside the geocoronal influence, the mission gains valuable insights to planetary formation and evolution. The mission architecture comprises a 1302 kg spacecraft equipped with a 1.5 m main mirror to observe the sky over a mission lifetime of three years. • Aetheras explores atmospheric escape to reveal exoplanet formation dynamics. • The mission targets exoplanets in Radius Valley and Hot Neptune Desert regions. • The satellite uses NIR and UV spectroscopy with a 1.5 m telescope. • It studies exospheric outflows and magnetic proxies. • The mission concept positions the satellite at Earth–Sun L2, for three years.
Authors 18
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Marius Anger corresponding
Affiliation as printed
Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering, Aalto University, Maarintie 8, Espoo, 02150, Finland
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DTU Space · Technical University of Denmark
Affiliation as printed
DTU Space, Department of Space Research and Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Elektrovej Bygning 327, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
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University of Insubria · Brera Astronomical Observatory
Affiliation as printed
Como Lake Center for Astrophysics (CLAP), DiSAT, Univeristà degli Studi dell’Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, Como, 22100, Italy
INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Via E. Bianchi 46, Merate, 23807, Italy
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Technische Universität Braunschweig
Affiliation as printed
Institut für Geophysik und Extraterrestrische Physik, TU Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstraße 3, Braunschweig, 38106, Germany
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Uppsala University · Université de Lille
Affiliation as printed
Department of Earth Sciences, Palaeobiology, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, Uppsala, 75236, Sweden
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Lille, Cité Scientifique, SN5, Villeneuve d’Ascq, 59650, France
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Affiliation as printed
Weltraumforschung und Planetologie, Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bern, Gesellschaftsstrasse 6, Bern, 3012, Switzerland
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University of Rome Tor Vergata · Astronomical Observatory of Rome · Sapienza University of Rome · National Institute for Astrophysics
Affiliation as printed
Dipartimento di Fisica, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Roma, I-00185, Italy
Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, Roma, I-00133, Italy
INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, Monte Porzio Catone (RM), I-00040, Italy
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Leiden University · University of Lisbon · Leiden Observatory
Affiliation as printed
Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande 016, Lisbon, 1749-016, Portugal
Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, PO Box 9513, Leiden, 2300 RA, Netherlands
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University of Graz · Graz University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Physics, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, Graz, A-8010, Austria
Institute of Theoretical Physics - Computational Physics, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 16, Graz, A-8010, Austria
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Affiliation as printed
Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Bâtiment L 6, rue Coudenhove-Kalergi, L-1359, Luxembourg
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Warsaw University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Warsaw University of Technology, pl. Politechniki 1, Warsaw, 00-665, Poland
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Affiliation as printed
Università di Bologna, Department of Industrial Engineering, Via Fontanelle 40, Forlì, I-47121, Italy
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Astrophysics, University of Vienna, Türkenschanzstraße 17, Vienna, 1180, Austria
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Affiliation as printed
Uppsala University, Lägerhyddsvägen 1, Uppsala, 75237, Sweden
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Affiliation as printed
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 16 Richmond St, Glasgow, G1 1XQ, Scotland, UK
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Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
Affiliation as printed
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Saulėtekio al. 11, Vilnius, LT-10223, Lithuania
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Leiden University · Leiden Observatory · Space Research Organisation Netherlands · Delft University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Kluyverweg 1, Delft, 2629 HS, Netherlands
Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, PO Box 9513, Leiden, 2300 RA, Netherlands
Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON), Niels Bohrweg 4, Leiden, 2333 CA, Netherlands
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines · Université Paris-Saclay · Sorbonne Université · Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace · Laboratoire atmosphères, milieux, observations spatiales
Affiliation as printed
LATMOS/IPSL, UVSQ Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 11, boulevard D’Alembert, Guyancourt, 78280, France
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