Engineering

Aerospace engineering

Jupiter (rocket family)

Direct imaging

Operating system

Computer science

Exoplanet

Space exploration

Geology

Physics

Optics

Astronomy

Telescope

Spitzer Space Telescope

Remote sensing

Coronagraph

Astrobiology

Planet

Optical telescope

Stars

Space (punctuation)

Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave

The Coronagraph Instrument (CGI) on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will demonstrate the high-contrast technology necessary for visible-light exoplanet imaging and spectroscopy from space via direct imaging of Jupiter-size planets and debris disks. This in-space experience is a critical step toward future, larger missions targeted at direct imaging of Earth-like planets in the habitable zones of nearby stars. This paper presents an overview of the current instrument design and requirements, highlighting the critical hardware, algorithms, and operations being demonstrated. We also describe several exoplanet and circumstellar disk science cases enabled by these capabilities. A competitively selected Community Participation Program team will be an integral part of the technology demonstration and could perform additional CGI observations beyond the initial tech demo if the instrument performance warrants it.

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Coronagraph Instrument (CGI) technology demonstration