High precision space photometer: COROT

摘要

When the first exciting results of helioseismology were published little more than 20 years ago, the idea established soon to also apply this new tool to stars. Due to the extremely low photometric signal expected for solar type pulsation it was obvious to take advantage of the very low photometric noise level and inherent stability of space experiments, as well as of the pssibility to obtain very long uninterrupted homogeneus data sets in space. Compared to what can reasonably be obtained from ground an improveemnt of the photomeetric accuracy of about two orders of magnitude is expected for such a space experiment, which, over all, will be obtained simultaneously for a relatively large number of stars. Despite these clearly identified advantages, it took some time for this new science field to be established in space programmes, as is illustrated by the history of COROT.