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2029
In development
Lagrange Point 2
Astrophysics survey
Ariel’s specialty is to unveil the hidden nature of distant worlds by surveying the atmospheres of hundreds of known exoplanets. While over 7 000 exoplanets have been discovered thanks to previous space missions and ground-based observations, we still know little beyond their size and mass. Ariel will go deeper, detecting the presence of atmospheres and uncovering their characteristics, from temperature and pressure to chemical composition and even weather patterns, giving us a richer understanding of planets beyond our Solar System.
What also sets Ariel apart is its uniquely interdisciplinary science. The mission bridges multiple fields – from astronomy and physics to geology, mathematics, and astrobiology, expanding the way we study distant worlds.
Exoplanets animation. Credit: ESA.
We want to uncover secrets of exoplanets by addressing key questions about their composition and atmosphere, and the system they are part of:
Determine exoplanet composition:
What are exoplanets made of?
Study planetary pystem formation:
How do planets and planetary systems form?
Explore atmospheric evolution:
How do planets and their atmospheres evolve over time?
Ariel will use the technique of atmospheric transmission spectroscopy, a remote sensing method that allows us to obtain spectra of very distant objects. Equipped with two scientific instruments and a set of mirrors, the spacecraft will collect light emitted by the host stars of the exoplanets being studied. It will observe starlight passing through or emitted by planetary atmospheres, analysing their chemical composition, temperature, pressure, and cloud properties. By surveying hundreds of exoplanets, Ariel will reveal trends in planetary formation, evolution and climate.
Animation of Ariel's beam and instruments operations. Credit: ESA/ATG Medialab.
Credit: Airbus. Instruments list: Ariel medium-resolution InfraRed Spectrometer (AIRS) and the VNIR channels, two of which also act as Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS), Telescope Assembly (TA).
Ariel complements several other exoplanet missions. It is the third in a trio of dedicated ESA missions focusing on various aspects of this rapidly evolving subject. Launched in 2019, Cheops is characterising exoplanets known to be orbiting around nearby bright stars. Plato is scheduled for launch in 2026 on the quest for identifying Earth-like planets in orbits up to the habitable zone of Sun-like stars.
Assembly of Ariel’s spacecraft structural model. Credit: Airbus.
Ariel is a European mission designed, built, and operated by ESA, in collaboration with the Ariel Mission Consortium, and contributions from NASA, JAXA (Japan) and CSA (China). Involving more than 50 institutes from 17 European countries, the Consortium will provide the mission’s payload module, including the reflector telescope and associated science instruments. Meanwhile, Airbus will lead the European industrial consortium that is building the spacecraft and provide expertise and support to ESA and the Ariel Mission Consortium for the development of the payload module.
Explore a subset of the ESA Science Programme missions here. Additional mission pages are in progress.
The currently available mission pages are ESA's flagship missions launched from 2013 and to be launched (L-class), and the ones in development (M- and F-class).
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