The ARIEL (Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet
Large-survey) mission was selected today as the next European
Space Agency (ESA) science mission, putting UK leadership at the
heart of research into planets that lie outside our solar system
– exoplanets.
Thousands of exoplanets have now been discovered with a huge
diversity of masses, sizes and orbits, but very little is known
about their chemical composition, formation, or their
evolutionary links to their host stars.
ARIEL will carry out the first ever large-scale survey of
exoplanets specifically to examine their atmospheres. It will
study hot, Jupiter-size planets close to their stars, and so will
help scientists understand the key processes which form planetary
systems and affect how they evolve.
Science Minister said:
“Space is our final frontier and, working with UCL, we want to be
at the forefront of discovering new planets. British involvement
in this incredibly exciting new mission demonstrates how integral
our world-leading scientific expertise is in solving some of
space’s greatest mysteries.
“The UK is a go-to destination for research and discovery, being
home to some of the brightest and best talent. Through our modern
Industrial Strategy and record funding for R&D, increasing
investment to around £12 billion by 2021, we will continue to do
all we can to boost our world-leading science sector and build a
Britain fit for the future.”
ESA’s Science Programme Committee chose ARIEL for the fourth
medium class science mission (M4) in its Cosmic Vision Programme.
Subject to further review, the UK Space Agency will provide a
multi-million pound investment package to support UK leadership
of the project.
Dr Graham Turnock, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:
“It is thanks to the world-leading skills of our innovative space
community that a UK-led consortium has been chosen to take
forward the next ESA science mission. This demonstrates what a
vital role we continue to play in European collaboration on
research in space.
“The ARIEL mission is a prime example of the scientific
innovation underpinning the wider economy. It relies on the UK’s
science and engineering expertise, which are at the forefront of
the Government’s Industrial Strategy.”
The mission’s Principal Investigator is Professor Giovanna
Tinetti, from University College London, who will lead the
mission science. STFC RAL Space will manage the overall European
consortium building the payload, which will be assembled and
tested in Harwell, Oxfordshire. Other UK involvement will come
from Cardiff University, Oxford University and the UK Astronomy
Technology Centre. UK industry can also expect to be involved in
the satellite’s construction and operations.
Prof Giovanna Tinetti of UCL said:
“Although we’ve now discovered around 3800 planets orbiting other
stars, the nature of these exoplanets remains largely mysterious.
ARIEL will study a statistically large sample of exoplanets to
give us a truly representative picture of what these planets are
like. This will enable us to answer questions about how the
chemistry of a planet links to the environment in which it forms,
and how its birth and evolution are affected by its parent star.”
The ARIEL Consortium Project Manager, Paul Eccleston, of STFC RAL
Space, said:
“It is wonderful news that ESA have selected ARIEL for the next
medium class science mission. The team are very excited to have
the opportunity to realise the mission we’ve been developing for
the last two years. ARIEL will revolutionise our understanding of
how planetary systems form and evolve, helping us put our own
solar system into context and compare it to our neighbours in the
galaxy.”
The UK’s central roles in ARIEL build on our international
leadership in astronomy and planetary science, and will
complement the science being delivered by the European Space
Agency’s Gaia and PLATO missions, and by the NASA-led James Webb
Space Telescope, all missions with major UK involvement.
