The design project for Ariel, a spacecraft that will be used to study the atmosphere of around a thousand exoplanets (planets outside the Solar System), was approved by the European Space Agency (ESA), which leads the mission. The development of the spacecraft is carried out by Airbus.
The Ariel mission (Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey) will cost more than 200 million euros. The objective of the venture is to analyze the composition of planets to better understand how structures formed and evolved.
“Observations of these worlds will provide us with knowledge about the early phases of planetary and atmospheric formation, as well as their subsequent evolution. This, in turn, will contribute to the understanding of our own Solar System and could help us discover whether there is life elsewhere in our Universe and whether another Earth-like planet exists!” said Christophe Gabilan, Ariel project manager at Airbus, in a statement.
Photos: Discover the planets of the Solar System
Source: CNN Brasil
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