The interferometric version of the Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF-I) has the potential to find and characterize earth-sized planets in the habitable zones of over 250 nearby stars and to search for life using biomarkers in the atmospheres of any planets found. The scientific case for such a mission continues to be strengthened by ongoing progress in the detection of planets via indirect means. This paper summarizes the status of TPF-I, illustrative scientific requirements for the mission, and its enabling technologies.

Absfract-The objective of the Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) mission is to find and characterize earth-like planets orbiting other stars. Three architectural options are under consideration for this mission: a formation-flying interferometer (FFI), a structurally-connected interferometer, and a coronagraph. One of these options will be selected as the TPF baseline design in 2006. This paper describes the technology tasks underway to establish the viability of precision formation flying for the FFI option. In particular, interferometric science observations require autonomous precise control and maneuvering of five spacecraft to an accuracy of 2 cm in range and 1 arc-minute in bearing. This precision must be maintained over interspacecraft ranges varying ftom a few meters to hundreds of meten. Autonomous operations, ranging kom formation acquisition and formation maneuvering to high precision formation flying during science observations, are required. Challenges lie in meeting the demanding performance requirements as well as in demonstrating the long-term robustness of the autonomous formation flying system. These challenges are unprecedented for deep space missions. To address them, research is under way in the areas of formation control algorithms, relative sensor technologies, system design, end-to-end real-time system simulation, and ground-based and micro-g end-to-end system demonstrations. Four interrelated testbeds are under development concurrently with the FFI system design.

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