Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF)

The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) will search for and observe exoplanets in the "habitable zones" of stars out to a distance of 50 light years.

In systems where SIM finds indirect evidence of exoplanets, TPF will null the starlight by a factor of 100,000 to permit direct observation of the planets. It will measure their size, temperature, and location. And within the "habitable zone" around each star, it will analyze the spectroscopic signatures of planetary atmospheres for signs of life.

TPF will also investigate planetary development in disks of dust and gas around newly-forming stars, and study the interstellar medium, quasar cores, and the black hole at the center of the Milky Way.

The TPF mission concept is still evolving; two concepts are currently under study to implement TPF -- either infrared nulling interferometry, or visible-light coronagraphy.

Based on our experience with KI and SIM, the MSC will provide the Science Operations System (SOS) for the TPF mission, and continue in its role to make NASA Navigator Program missions available to the broad scientific community.