Space Interferometer Mission

Space Interferometer Mission

The Mission

…Throughout history humankind have asked so many questions about the size of the universe, its age, and the possibility for existence of planets like Earth in some other galaxies. Nowadays, scientists are conscious that answering such questions is very possible if proper and accurate methods are used to detect the position and distances of the stars and galaxies.

…For this purpose, a future mission is scheduled for launch in 2009, which is the Space Interferometry Mission (SIM). The importance of this mission is the accurate determination of the position and distances of stars. This benefit will allow scientists to specify the distances to stars throughout the galaxy and to probe nearby stars for Earth-sized planets, consequently entering a new gate of discoveries.

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Fig 2.1: Artist's concept of SIM

...Achieving these purposes is possible since SIM will make use of optical interferometry. This method can achieve its aim outside the Earth's atmosphere where it can combine light from two or more telescopes as if they were pieces of a single, huge telescope mirror. After this technique is being used with SIM, it will help in developing powerful telescopes able to take images of Earth-like planets orbiting distant stars and determine whether these planets support life or n

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…SIM is being developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory under contract with NASA and in close collaboration with two industry partners, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space in Sunnyvale, California, and Northrop Grumman in Redondo Beach, California.

Science Goals

Fig 2.2: SIM spacecraft

1-Planet Detection:

The SIM planet search program consists of three main scientific areas:...