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Terrestrial Planet Finder

Posted by timothy on from the idea-flagpole-getting-full dept.

solarlux writes "The Terrestrial Planet Finder has taken one step closer to reality as two architectures have been approved by NASA. The first, TPF-c, will be a single optical telescope which employs a coronograph to block starlight for planet detection. TPF-i will be a flotilla of infrared telescopes flying in formation to form a interferometer. TPF-i will analyze the planets identified by TPF-c for life signatures. The telescopes are to be launched within the next 10-15 years."

3 of 168 comments (clear)

  1. Planning by Killjoy_NL · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've always been very impressed by the timetables NASA is using.
    It must be an enormous task to plan so many years ahead into the uncertain future, not sure if the funding will be there. /me tips my hat to them

    --
    This is the sig that says NI (again)
  2. Pre-history of a new religious reformation... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Once these things start piling up spectra. We could get some great surprises. Anyone wonder how things are going to change if they find a planet with a big chuck of oxygen in the atmosphere. Yet more proof that we're not quite so special :).

  3. 10 - 15 years? That's quite a horizon. by machinecraig · · Score: 5, Insightful

    IMHO - something planned to happen 10-15 years from now has a great risk of not happening.

    Entirely too much can change. You're talking about a funded project that would have to survive multiple shakes up in Administration (and think of all the Bureaucratic structures a NASA funded project relies on!!!) , not to mention a project that would have to be able to keep it's funding for that long.

    Plus - in 10-15 years, it's entirely possible that technology might make this particular project irrelevant.