Planet Discoverer Interferometer (PDI) I: a potential precursor to Terrestrial Planet Finder

Neville J. Woolf; James Roger P. Angel; Charles A. Beichman; James H. Burge; Michael Shao; Domenick J. Tenerelli

doi:10.1117/12.317132

24 July 1998 Planet Discoverer Interferometer (PDI) I: a potential precursor to Terrestrial Planet Finder

Neville J. Woolf, James Roger P. Angel, Charles A. Beichman, James H. Burge, Michael Shao, Domenick J. Tenerelli

Proceedings Volume 3350, Astronomical Interferometry; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317132
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 1998, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

We consider a possible precursor interferometer to Terrestrial Planet Finder. The precursor called Planet Discoverer Interferometer (PDI) would search for broadband 10 μm radiation from possible terrestrial planets orbiting stars out to a distance of 8-10pc and at an angular separation of at least 0.1 arcseconds. There are about 20 stars of types A,F,G and K around which an Earth-analog might be detected. PDI would be able to confirm such planets by seeing their orbital motion. PDI would also be able to observe 5 μm radiation from the more massive and younger gas-giant planets around stars up to distances ∼ 150 pc, separated from their star by more than 0.05 arc seconds. It would also see the re-radiated thermal radiation of Jupiter-like planets at temperatures above ∼130K. The device would be a 15m long truss with four SIRTF-like telescopes. It would need to be in a SIRTF-like Earth-trailing orbit, and would be radiatively cooled. A very preliminary design suggest that PDI could fit into the shroud of a Delta II rocket. Similar preliminary calculations suggest that the total lifetime cost of such a mission would be under $300M. Detailed studies of this concept are in process.

Citation Download Citation

Neville J. Woolf, James Roger P. Angel, Charles A. Beichman, James H. Burge, Michael Shao, and Domenick J. Tenerelli "Planet Discoverer Interferometer (PDI) I: a potential precursor to Terrestrial Planet Finder", Proc. SPIE 3350, Astronomical Interferometry, (24 July 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317132

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available