SPICA
To Discover the Origins of Galaxies, Stars and Planets |
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Themes |
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What are the conditions for planet formation and the emergence of life?
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How does the Solar System work?
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How did the Universe originate and what is it made of?
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Primary Goal |
Understanding how galaxies, stars and planets form and evolve as well as the interaction between the astrophysical processes that have led to the formation of our own Solar System |
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Targets |
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Young gas giant planets
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Protoplanetary disks
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Galactic and extragalactic star forming regions
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Luminous IR galaxies, AGNs and starburst galaxies at high redshift
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Deep cosmological surveys
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Wavelength |
Mid- to Far-infrared (~5-210 μm) |
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Telescope |
3.2 m Ritchey-Chrétien |
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Orbit |
L2 |
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Lifetime |
Minimum 3 years, 5 year goal |
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Partners |
JAXA-ESA |
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Type |
Mission of Opportunity |