Orbiting Astronomical Satellite for Investigating Stellar Systems (OASIS): “Following water from galaxies, through protostellar systems, to oceans”

Christopher K. Walker, Gordon Chin, Susanne Aalto, Carrie M. Anderson, Jonathan W. Arenberg, Cara Battersby, Edwin Bergin, Jenny Bergner, Nicolas Biver, Gordon L. Bjoraker, John Carr, Thibault Cavalié, Elvire de Beck, Michael A. DiSanti, Paul Hartogh, Leslie K. Hunt, Daewook Kim, Craig A Kulesa, David Leisawitz, Joan NajitaDimitra Rigopoulou, Kamber Schwarz, Yancy Shirly, Antony A. Stark, Yuzuru Takashima, Xander Tielens, Serena Viti, David Wilner, Edward Wollack, Erick Young

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Orbiting Astronomical Satellite for Investigating Stellar Systems (OASIS) is a space-based, MIDEX-class mission concept that employs a 17-meter diameter inflatable aperture with cryogenic heterodyne receivers, enabling high sensitivity and high spectral resolution (resolving power >106) observations at terahertz frequencies. OASIS science is targeting submillimeter and far-infrared transitions of H2O and its isotopologues, as well as deuterated molecular hydrogen (HD) and other molecular species from 660 to 80 µm, which are inaccessible to ground-based telescopes due to the opacity of Earth’s atmosphere. OASIS will have >20x the collecting area and ~5x the angular resolution of Herschel, and it complements the shorter wavelength capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope. With its large collecting area and suite of terahertz heterodyne receivers, OASIS will have the sensitivity to follow the water trail from galaxies to oceans, as well as directly measure gas mass in a wide variety of astrophysical objects from observations of the ground-state HD line. OASIS will operate in a Sun-Earth L1 halo orbit that enables observations of large numbers of galaxies, protoplanetary systems, and solar system objects during the course of its 1-year baseline mission. OASIS embraces an overarching science theme of “following water from galaxies, through protostellar systems, to oceans.” This theme resonates with the NASA Astrophysics Roadmap and the 2010 Astrophysics Decadal Survey, and it is also highly complementary to the proposed Origins Space Telescope’s objectives.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAstronomical Optics
Subtitle of host publicationDesign, Manufacture, and Test of Space and Ground Systems III
EditorsTony B. Hull, Daewook Kim, Pascal Hallibert, Fanny Keller
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510644786
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
EventAstronomical Optics: Design, Manufacture, and Test of Space and Ground Systems III 2021 - San Diego, United States
Duration: Aug 1 2021Aug 5 2021

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume11820
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceAstronomical Optics: Design, Manufacture, and Test of Space and Ground Systems III 2021
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period8/1/218/5/21

Keywords

  • Comets
  • Far-infrared spectroscopy
  • Galaxies
  • HD
  • Heterodyne spectroscopy
  • Moons
  • Planets
  • Proto-planetary disks
  • Submillimeter spectroscopy
  • Terahertz astronomy
  • Water

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Orbiting Astronomical Satellite for Investigating Stellar Systems (OASIS): “Following water from galaxies, through protostellar systems, to oceans”'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this