@inproceedings{acfc4e3cda8644fcaeadfbc972db24d6,
title = "Exo-C: A probe-scale space observatory for direct imaging and spectroscopy of extrasolar planetary systems",
abstract = "{"}Exo-C{"} is NASAs first community study of a modest aperture space telescope mission that is optimized for high contrast observations of exoplanetary systems. The mission will be capable of taking optical spectra of nearby exoplanets in reflected light, discovering previously undetected planets, and imaging structure in a large sample of circumstellar disks. It will obtain unique science results on planets down to super-Earth sizes and serve as a technology pathfinder toward an eventual flagship-class mission to find and characterize habitable Earth-like exoplanets. We present the mission/payload design and highlight steps to reduce mission cost/risk relative to previous mission concepts. Key elements are an unobscured telescope aperture, an internal coronagraph with deformable mirrors for precise wavefront control, and an orbit and observatory design chosen for high thermal stability. Exo-C has a similar telescope aperture, orbit, lifetime, and spacecraft bus requirements to the highly successful Kepler mission (which is our cost reference). Much of the needed technology development is being pursued under the WFIRST coronagraph study and would support a mission start in 2017, should NASA decide to proceed. This paper summarizes the study final report completed in March 2015.",
keywords = "Exoplanets, high contrast imaging, optical astronomy, space mission concepts",
author = "Stapelfeldt, {Karl R.} and Dekens, {Frank G.} and Brenner, {Michael P.} and Warfield, {Keith R.} and Ruslan Belikov and Brugarolas, {Paul B.} and Geoffrey Bryden and Cahoy, {Kerri L.} and Supriya Chakrabarti and Serge Dubovitsky and Effinger, {Robert T.} and Brian Hirsch and Andrew Kissil and Krist, {John E.} and Lang, {Jared J.} and Marley, {Mark S.} and McElwain, {Michael W.} and Meadows, {Victoria S.} and Joel Nissen and Oseas, {Jeffrey M.} and Chris Pong and Eugene Serabyn and Eric Sunada and Trauger, {John T.} and Unwin, {Stephen C.}",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 SPIE.; Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets VII ; Conference date: 10-08-2015 Through 13-08-2015",
year = "2015",
doi = "10.1117/12.2191720",
language = "English (US)",
series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",
publisher = "SPIE",
editor = "Stuart Shaklan",
booktitle = "Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets VII",
}