The Extreme-ultraviolet Stellar Characterization for Atmospheric Physics and Evolution (ESCAPE) Mission: Motivation and Overview

TL;DR

ESCAPE is a small astrophysics mission using ultraviolet spectroscopy to study high-energy radiation from nearby stars, crucial for understanding exoplanet habitability and guiding future NASA life-finder missions.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive EUV and coronal mass ejection environment data for habitable zone stars, with significant efficiency improvements over previous missions.

Findings

First detailed EUV stellar environment data

Enhanced EUV observational efficiency by two orders of magnitude

Identification of exoplanetary systems suitable for habitability

Abstract

The Extreme-ultraviolet Stellar Characterization for Atmospheric Physics and Evolution (ESCAPE) mission is an astrophysics Small Explorer employing ultraviolet spectroscopy (EUV: 80 - 825 \AA\ and FUV: 1280 - 1650 \AA) to explore the high-energy radiation environment in the habitable zones around nearby stars. ESCAPE provides the first comprehensive study of the stellar EUV and coronal mass ejection environments which directly impact the habitability of rocky exoplanets. In a 20 month science mission, ESCAPE will provide the essential stellar characterization to identify exoplanetary systems most conducive to habitability and provide a roadmap for NASA's future life-finder missions. ESCAPE accomplishes this goal with roughly two-order-of-magnitude gains in EUV efficiency over previous missions. ESCAPE employs a grazing incidence telescope that feeds an EUV and FUV spectrograph. The ESCAPE science instrument builds on previous ultraviolet and X-ray instrumentation, grazing incidence optical systems, and photon-counting ultraviolet detectors used on NASA astrophysics, heliophysics, and planetary science missions. The ESCAPE spacecraft bus is the versatile and high-heritage Ball Aerospace BCP Small spacecraft. Data archives will be housed at the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST).