An integrated payload design for the Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory (EChO)

  • Bruce Swinyard
  • , Giovanna Tinetti
  • , Jonathan Tennyson
  • , Marcell Tessenyi
  • , Ingo Waldmann
  • , Bruce Swinyard
  • , Paul Eccleston
  • , Marc Ferlet
  • , Tanya Lim
  • , Alberto Adriani
  • , Giuseppe Piccioni
  • , Jean-Philippe Beaulieu
  • , Tomas Belenguer Davila
  • , Gonzalo Ramos Zapata
  • , Neil Bowles
  • , Ian Bryson
  • , Gillian Wright
  • , Athena Coustenis
  • , Vincent Coudé Du Foresto
  • , Jean-Michel Reess
  • Paul Hartogh, Pierre-Olivier Lagage, Giuseppe Malaguti, Gianluca Morgante, Mercedes López-Morales, Ignasi Ribas, Giuseppina Micela, Hans Ulrik Nørgaard-Nielsen, Marc Ollivier, Emanuele Pace, Enzo Pascale, Alessandro Sozzetti, Mark R. Swain, Berend Winter, Maria-Rosa Zapatero Osorio

    Research output: Contribution to journalConference articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    The Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory (EChO) is a space mission dedicated to undertaking spectroscopy of transiting exoplanets over the widest wavelength range possible. It is based around a highly stable space platform with a 1.2 m class telescope. The mission is currently being studied by ESA in the context of a medium class mission within the Cosmic Vision programme for launch post 2020. The payload suite is required to provide simultaneous coverage from the visible to the mid-infrared and must be highly stable and effectively operate as a single instrument. In this paper we describe the integrated spectrometer payload design for EChO which will cover the 0.4 to 16 micron wavelength band. The instrumentation is subdivided into 5 channels (Visible/Near Infrared, Short Wave InfraRed, 2 x Mid Wave InfraRed; Long Wave InfraRed) with a common set of optics spectrally dividing the input beam via dichroics. We discuss the significant design issues for the payload and the detailed technical trade-offs that we are undertaking to produce a payload for EChO that can be built within the mission and programme constraints and yet which will meet the exacting scientific performance required to undertake transit spectroscopy. © 2012 SPIE.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
    Volume8442
    Pages (from-to)84421G
    Number of pages14
    ISSN0277-786X
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2012
    EventSPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2012 - Amsterdam RAI Convention Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
    Duration: 1 Jul 20126 Jul 2012
    Conference number: 8443

    Conference

    ConferenceSPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2012
    Number8443
    LocationAmsterdam RAI Convention Center
    Country/TerritoryNetherlands
    CityAmsterdam
    Period01/07/201206/07/2012

    Keywords

    • Astronomy
    • Buildings
    • Design
    • Infrared radiation
    • Millimeter waves
    • Observatories
    • Space flight
    • Space platforms
    • Space telescopes
    • Spectrometers
    • Instruments

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