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