A Roadmap for NASA's Search for Other Earths

摘要

The President has identified the search for Earth-like planets around nearby stars as a critical part of NASA's long term Vision for Space Exploration. A suite of space-based missions will determine the incidence of Earth-like planets, detect and characterize the nearest planets, search for signs of life in their atmosphere, as well as make great advances in our understanding of how planetary systems form and evolve. A detailed roadmap lays out the required technology developments, the precursor scientific knowledge, and the capabilities of the relevant missions.