SIM: Progress Report and Current Status
- Paper number
IAC-08.A3.4.4
- Author
Mr. James C. Marr, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Renaud Goullioud, Jet Propulsion Laboratory - California Institute of Technology, United States
- Coauthor
Dr. Michael Shao, Jet Propulsion Laboratory - California Institute of Technology, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
SIM will be the first, in-space, long-baseline Michelson Stellar Interferometer performing precision astrometry at the micro-arcsecond level. SIM will be used to characterize planetary systems around stars within ten parsecs of the Sun and address a number of other key issues in astrophysics. This paper provides an update relative to the IAC 2006 paper on SIM-PlanetQuest, reflecting budget driven changes in the mission design and science capabilities. The paper describes the new SIM “Lite” mission concept, including: science objectives, key science assessment results, key top level requirements, how the mission will be implemented (technical and programmatic), technology development status (completed in 2005), an assessment of where the project is today, and prognosis for the future. SIM supports the U.S. Vision for Exploration, is supported by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and directly supports the U.S. ExoPlanet Task Force recommendation that the next in-space planet finding mission be a micro-arcesond astrometry mission launching by mid-decade capable of detecting Earth analogs in the habitable zone of nearby Sun-like stars.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.A3.4.4.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.