TPF-C: Status and recent progress

Traub, Wesley A.; Levine, Marie; Shaklan, Stuart; Kasting, James; Angel, J. Roger; Brown, Michael E.; Brown, Robert A.; Burrows, Christopher; Clampin, Mark; Dressler, Alan; Ferguson, Henry C.; Hammel, Heidi B.; Heap, Sara R.; Horner, Scott D.; Illingworth, Garth D.; Kasdin, N. Jeremy; Kuchner, Mark J.; Lin, Douglas; Marley, Mark S.; Meadows, Victoria; Noecker, Charley; Oppenheimer, Ben R.; Seager, Sara; Shao, Michael; Stapelfeldt, Karl R.; Trauger, John T.; Monnier, JD; Scholler, M; Danchi, WC
2006
ADVANCES IN STELLAR INTERFEROMETRY PTS 1 AND 2
DOI
10.1117/12.673608
The Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph (TPF-C) is a deep space mission designed to detect and characterize Earth-like planets around nearby stars. TPF-C will be able to search for signs of life on these planets. TPF-C will use spectroscopy to measure basic properties including the presence of water or oxygen in the atmosphere, powerful signatures in the search for habitable worlds. This capability to characterize planets is what allows TPF-C to transcend other astronomy projects and become an historical endeavor on a par with the discovery voyages of the great navigators.