Ariel: ESA's cosmic vision (Pre-Mission)

Timeline of exoplanet observatories, including Ariel. Credit: ESA

• Launch Date: 2029 (Planned)
• Launch Site: Probably Kourou, French Guiana
• Launch Vehicle: Ariane 6
• Mission Type: Observatory
• Target: Exoplanets
• Dimensions: Unavailable
• Mass: Unavailable

Ariel stands for "Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey," and has nothing to do with the moon of Uranus that has the same name. It's the fourth medium-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision program. It will launch on the same rocket as ESA's Comet Interceptor in 2029. Ariel will focus on studing the chemical and thermal properties of exoplanets, and will work alongside the James Webb Space Telescope. This data will help fill in a gap in knowledge on how the chemistry of a planet, relates to the chemistry of its parent star. It was selected in 2018, and officially adopted in 2020, with construction currently underway.

Ariel telescope. Credit: ESA/Airbus

Ariel will be the third dedicated ESA exoplanet studying satellite, after the launch of CHEOPS in 2019, and the upcoming launch of PLATO in 2026. The focus with Ariel is on warm planets orbiting close to G-Type dwarfs like our Sun. Like JWST, Ariel will also study the atmospheres of these exoplanets. Ariel will even map seasonal changes in weather for a select group of exoplanets.

A hot jupiter transits its star. Credit: ESA