LIFE: Large Interferometer For Exoplanets

LIFE is a new project initiated in Europe with the goal to consolidate various efforts and define a roadmap that eventually leads to the launch of a large, space-based MIR nulling interferometer to investigate the atmospheric properties of a large sample of — primarily terrestrial — exoplanets.
Centered around clear and ambitious scientific objectives the project will define the relevant science and technical requirements. The status of key technologies will be re-assessed and further technology development will be coordinated. LIFE is based on the heritage of ESA/Darwin and NASA/TPF-I, but
significant advances in our understanding of exoplanets and newly available technologies will be taken into account in the LIFE mission concept. One of the long-term objectives of extrasolar planet research is the investigation of the atmospheric properties for a large number (~100) of terrestrial exoplanets. This is partially driven by the idea to search for and identify potential biosignatures, but such a dataset is — in a more general sense — invaluable for understanding the diversity of planetary bodies. While exoplanet science is omnipresent on the roadmaps of all major space agencies and ground-based observatories and first steps in this direction will be taken in the coming 10-15 years, none of the currently selected missions and projects will be able to deliver such a comprehensive dataset.