WFIRST Science with a Probe Class Mission

TL;DR

This paper proposes a cost-effective, probe-class mission design for WFIRST that achieves its scientific goals within a realistic NASA budget by utilizing innovative optical configurations.

Contribution

It introduces a lower-cost mission concept for WFIRST using a probe-class design with dichroics to maximize photon collection on a 1.2-meter telescope.

Findings

Achieves all WFIRST science goals with reduced cost.

Utilizes dichroics for four focal planes with the same field of view.

Design fits within realistic NASA budget constraints.

Abstract

WFIRST is the highest priority space mission of the Decadal review, however, it is unlikely to begin in this decade primarily due to a anticipated NASA budget that is unlikely to have sufficient resources to fund such a mission. For this reason we present a lower cost mission that accomplishes all of the WFIRST science as described in the Design Reference Mission 1 with a probe class design. This is effort is motivated by a desire to begin WFIRST in a timely manner and within a budget that can fit within the assets available to NASA on a realistic basis. The design utilizes dichroics to form four focal planes all having the same field of view to use the majority of available photons from a 1.2 meter telescope.