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| Paper: |
The Lunar Ultraviolet Observatory (OUL), a HWO Precursor Mission for the Investigation of the Earth as an Exoplanet |
| Monograph: |
11, HWO25 Proceedings Part II: Mission Framework, Technology, and Broader Contributions |
| Page: |
395 |
| Authors: |
Ana Inés Gómez de Castro, María Frutos, Ada Canet, Miguel Chávez, Shingo Kameda, León Restrepo Quirós, and Eduardo Bendek |
| DOI: |
10.26624/UJFF4298 |
| Abstract: |
The search for Earth twins requires a good understanding of the Earth and its interaction with its space environment, in particular, with the Sun in terms of radiation, wind and magnetic activity. The observations obtained in the hydrogen's Lyman-α line by the NASA probes IMAGE and TWINS revealed that the Earth's exosphere extends far beyond classical model predictions, highlighting gaps in our understanding of atmospheric escape processes and the interactions the exosphere with the solar wind and the Moon. This renewed interest is driven by the search for Earth-like planets and the preparatory activities for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO).
The Observatorio Ultravioleta Lunar (OUL) is designed to map the Earth's exosphere, magnetosphere, and the near-Earth space from lunar orbit.
It will capture wide-field images in narrow and broad bands within the 115-175 nm spectral range. OUL operates in raster scan mode,
ensuring continuous sky mapping and high-sensitivity imaging through post-processing on the ground. OUL is designed to observe Earth as an exoplanet,
providing unprecedented data for the study and characterization of extended hydrogen envelopes around rocky planets like Earth with HWO.
OUL is a scientific payload financed by the Spanish Space Agency (AEE). The project is entering the consolidation of the design phase (Phase B2) to be adapted for implementation in the AEE's lunar mission. |
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