Nasa is drawing up plans for a new mission that could finally give an answer to one of humanity’s biggest questions – are we alone in the universe?
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) will be given the mission of examining some of the nearly 6,000 exoplanets that scientists have discovered since the 1990s.
Scientists from the HWO will scan for signs of oxygen, methane and ozone present in a planet’s atmosphere – all key components to suggest that life may exist within them.
However, the daring project is not expected to begin until the 2040s as it will require technologies that have not yet been developed and tested.
Dr Caroline Harper, the UK Space Agency’s head of space science, said: “If we’re going to find evidence of alien life beyond our solar system in our lifetime, the Habitable Worlds Observatory represents our best opportunity.
“This ground-breaking mission could finally answer one of humanity’s most profound questions: are we alone in the universe?”
Earth-sized planets that lie within the habitable zones of nearby stars will be assessed for chemical patterns, what scientists refer to as biosignatures.
However, the HWO will not only be looking for signs of life on these planets, but potentially even take photos of them.
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Artwork of planet K2-18b, a distant planet located in the habitable zone, may contain life
Although thousands of exoplanets have been discovered, few have ever been photographed.
Many of the images that we have of these planets are actually an artist’s impression of what the faraway world might look like according to the data available to scientists.
Dr Shyam Balaji, a theoretical physicist at Kings College London, said that if scientists were to find a planet with a steady atmosphere and potential signs of life, “it would reshape how we see our place in the cosmos, and even short of detecting life”.
“Simply confirming that other habitable worlds exist would profoundly change our understanding of the universe and of our own planet’s uniqueness,” he added.
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The HWO will not only be looking for signs of life on these planets, but potentially even take photos of them
Under the current plans, the HWO could use a large spacecraft or Webb space telescopes in their mission, which should be able to capture a glimpse of a planet that is 10 billion times less visible than its host star.
However, by the time that the project could become a reality, the technology designed for the plan could be almost 50 years old.
The mission may also be in doubt if Trump’s proposed cuts to Nasa proceed, with the space agency set to lose almost a fifth of its current staff.
Balaji said: “Funding pressures are real and such ambitious missions are always vulnerable to delays.”
“But the scientific case is compelling and public interest is high,” he explained.
The UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency have stated their interest in becoming partners for the project.
At Nasa’s Habitable Worlds Observatory conference in Washington DC, Harper said: “The UK has developed exceptional expertise in exoplanet science and cutting-edge instrumentation.
“We now have the chance to build on these strengths and take part in what could be the most significant scientific discovery in human history.
“Whether we find life or not, the implications will be transformational – not just for space science, but for our understanding of humanity’s place in the universe.”
