An International, Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Perspective on the Study of Extrasolar Planets and its Implications for Humanity

Paper number

IAC-14,A3,1,9,x22455

Author

Mr. Daniel Long, International Space University (ISU), United States

Coauthor

Ms. Alana Bartolini, University of Toronto, Canada

Coauthor

Dr. James Burke, The Planetary Society, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Eric Choi, Canadensys Aerospace Corporation, Canada

Coauthor

Mr. Markus Geiss, University of Colorado Boulder, United States

Coauthor

Mr. Jean-Francois Thibault, Magellan Aerospace Corporation, Canada

Coauthor

Mr. Thomas Wilson, European Space Astronomy Centre, Spain

Coauthor

Mr. Alan Zide, NASA, United States

Year

2014

Abstract

Humanity’s fascination with the notion of planets outside of our Solar System is intrinsically tied to our sense of place in the Universe.  A geocentric (“Earth centered”) model of the Universe, most commonly attributed to the ancient Greco-Roman astronomer and mathematician Claudius Ptolemy, was accepted for almost 1,400 years until it was superseded by the heliocentric (“Sun centered”) model advocated by Renaissance astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.  For many years, the assumption that other stars are surrounded by planetary systems was nothing more than a reasonable hypothesis based on the Copernican principle of humanity’s non-preferential position in the Universe.  Another seemingly reasonable assumption was that such systems, once discovered, would turn out to be similar to our Solar System.  Since the first detections of exoplanets in the 1990s, orbiting the pulsar PSR B1257+12 and the main sequence star 51 Pegasi, the number of confirmed exoplanets now exceeds 1,000 with another 3,000 candidates awaiting verification.
One of the most surprising findings is that exoplanetary systems appear to be very diversified and quite unlike our Solar System.  As both ground-based and space-based observational and analytical tools improve, an increasing number of exoplanets are being discovered.  With these new tools, it is becoming possible not just to find planets but also to study their basic structural and atmospheric characteristics.  Many of the exoplanets now being found include smaller rocky bodies closer in size to the Earth, sometimes in orbital locations that might be conducive to life.
  
At the 2014 Space Studies Program (SSP) of the International Space University (ISU), which took place in Montréal, Québec this past summer, participants undertook a team project that sought to contribute new ideas to the field of exoplanets research from an unconstrained international, interdisciplinary and intercultural perspective.  In addition to the scientific and engineering aspects of the subject, the project sought to address  the  social  consequences  of  exoplanet discoveries and coming up with new ideas for increasing  the scientific return from both space-based  and ground-based  investigations  through  improved  communications and collaboration amongst researchers worldwide.  This paper summarizes the findings and conclusions of the ISU SSP 2014 Exoplanets Team Project.

Abstract document

IAC-14,A3,1,9,x22455.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-14,A3,1,9,x22455.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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