Wide-Field InfraRed Survey Telescope-Astrophysics Focused Telescope Assets WFIRST-AFTA Final Report

TL;DR

The WFIRST-AFTA mission is a high-sensitivity, high-resolution space telescope designed for dark energy, exoplanet microlensing, and wide-field astrophysics, utilizing a 2.4-meter mirror for enhanced capabilities.

Contribution

This report details the final design reference mission for WFIRST-AFTA, highlighting its advanced features and scientific goals based on a 2.4-meter mirror.

Findings

Enhanced sensitivity and resolution over previous designs

Capability to study exoplanets and dark energy extensively

Potential for high-impact wide-field astrophysics

Abstract

The Astro2010 Decadal Survey recommended a Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) as its top priority for a new large space mission. As conceived by the decadal survey, WFIRST would carry out a dark energy science program, a microlensing program to determine the demographics of exoplanets, and a general observing program utilizing its ultra wide field. In October 2012, NASA chartered a Science Definition Team (SDT) to produce, in collaboration with the WFIRST Project Office at GSFC and the Program Office at JPL, a Design Reference Mission (DRM) for an implementation of WFIRST using one of the 2.4-m, Hubble-quality mirror assemblies recently made available to NASA. This DRM builds on the work of the earlier WFIRST SDT, reported by Green et al. (2012). The 2.4-m primary mirror enables a mission with greater sensitivity and higher angular resolution than the 1.3-m and 1.1-m designs considered previously, increasing both the science return of the primary surveys and the capabilities of WFIRST as a Guest Observer facility. The option of adding an on-axis, coronagraphic instrument would enable imaging and spectroscopic studies of planets around nearby stars. This document presents the final report of the SDT.