3.5-meter Segmented-Mirror Robotic Space Telescope Mission White Paper III. Key Scientific Mission: Exoplanet Science with a Coronagraph
Abstract
This volume defines the exoplanet science program enabled by the dedicated high-contrast coronagraph in the baseline science payload of the 3.5-meter Segmented-Mirror Robotic Space Telescope. The observatory architecture incorporates the optical interfaces, wavefront sensing and control, pointing stability, and operations software required for coronagraphic observations from the outset. The observing strategy gives priority to the nearest stellar systems because they provide the most accessible laboratories for planetary exploration and the most likely destinations of future interstellar missions. The diffraction limit sets a reflected-light horizon of roughly 10--15 pc for planets at 1 AU and roughly 50--80 pc for Jupiter analogs. Within those horizons, the telescope can image nearby giant planets, obtain reflected-light spectra of their atmospheres, survey young systems and circumstellar disks, and support the habitability and biosignature programs that larger future missions will pursue. The wide-field imager complements the coronagraph through transit photometry, occurrence-rate statistics, and long-term monitoring of stellar magnetic activity. A systematic census of the nearest stellar neighbors provides a lasting reference for exoplanet science and future space exploration.
Related
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- 3.5-meter Segmented-Mirror Robotic Space Telescope Mission White Paper V. Key Scientific Mission: Compact-Object Time-Domain Science
- 3.5-meter Segmented-Mirror Robotic Space Telescope Mission White Paper II. Key Scientific Mission: Wide-Field Cosmology and Galaxy Evolution
- 3.5-meter Segmented-Mirror Robotic Space Telescope Mission White Paper I. Overall Architecture and Scientific Mission
- Optimal Design of Shaped Pupil Lyot Coronagraph for China's Large Segmented Telescope
BibTeX
@misc{kim202635meter,
title = {{3.5-meter Segmented-Mirror Robotic Space Telescope Mission White Paper III. Key Scientific Mission: Exoplanet Science with a Coronagraph}},
author = {Juhan Kim and Sang Hyun Lee and Yong-Woo Kang and Jeong-Yeol Han and Sungwook E. Hong and Bongkon Moon and Donguk Song and Juhyung Kang and Myeong-Gu Park and Sang Chul Kim and Chung-Uk Lee and Sangmo Tony Sohn and Arman Shafieloo and David Parkinson and Hong Soo Park and Dohyeong Kim and Chan Park and Jungjoo Sohn and Young-Beom Jeon and Jong-Hak Woo and Hyung Mok Lee and Hong Bae Ann and Myungkook James Jee and Mansoo Choi and Changbom Park},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.02577},
eprint = {2609.02577},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.02577},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - 3.5-meter Segmented-Mirror Robotic Space Telescope Mission White Paper III. Key Scientific Mission: Exoplanet Science with a Coronagraph
AU - Juhan Kim
AU - Sang Hyun Lee
AU - Yong-Woo Kang
AU - Jeong-Yeol Han
AU - Sungwook E. Hong
AU - Bongkon Moon
AU - Donguk Song
AU - Juhyung Kang
AU - Myeong-Gu Park
AU - Sang Chul Kim
AU - Chung-Uk Lee
AU - Sangmo Tony Sohn
AU - Arman Shafieloo
AU - David Parkinson
AU - Hong Soo Park
AU - Dohyeong Kim
AU - Chan Park
AU - Jungjoo Sohn
AU - Young-Beom Jeon
AU - Jong-Hak Woo
AU - Hyung Mok Lee
AU - Hong Bae Ann
AU - Myungkook James Jee
AU - Mansoo Choi
AU - Changbom Park
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/17
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.02577
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.02577
AB - This volume defines the exoplanet science program enabled by the dedicated high-contrast coronagraph in the baseline science payload of the 3.5-meter Segmented-Mirror Robotic Space Telescope. The observatory architecture incorporates the optical interfaces, wavefront sensing and control, pointing stability, and operations software required for coronagraphic observations from the outset. The observing strategy gives priority to the nearest stellar systems because they provide the most accessible laboratories for planetary exploration and the most likely destinations of future interstellar missions. The diffraction limit sets a reflected-light horizon of roughly 10--15 pc for planets at 1 AU and roughly 50--80 pc for Jupiter analogs. Within those horizons, the telescope can image nearby giant planets, obtain reflected-light spectra of their atmospheres, survey young systems and circumstellar disks, and support the habitability and biosignature programs that larger future missions will pursue. The wide-field imager complements the coronagraph through transit photometry, occurrence-rate statistics, and long-term monitoring of stellar magnetic activity. A systematic census of the nearest stellar neighbors provides a lasting reference for exoplanet science and future space exploration.
ER -