The space tele­scope CHEOPS

Char­ac­ter­is­ing ex­tra­so­lar plan­ets

The main objective of the Characterising Exoplanet Satellite (CHEOPS) mission is to investigate the structure of exoplanets larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune, or with a diameter of between 10,000 and 50,000 kilometres.

CHEOPS orbits the Earth from pole to pole at an altitude of around 700 kilometres, measuring the tiny changes in the brightness of a star as a planet passes in front of it, known as a transit. This makes it possible to determine the radius of an extrasolar planet. The more accurately both the radius and the mass are known, the more precisely its average density can be determined. This is an important parameter for characterising exoplanets. The planetary systems observed by CHEOPS were discovered using other telescopes, for example the NGTS telescope system in Chile or NASA's TESS space telescope. Thanks to its precise measurements, CHEOPS has found even more planets in many of these systems.

CHEOPS mainly observes exoplanets ranging from about the size of the Earth to the size of Neptune with diameters ranging from ten to 50,000 kilometres. An interesting aspect is whether the planets have a solid surface or consist mainly of gases.

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is involved in the scientific analysis of the CHEOPS data. The DLR Institutes of Optical Sensor Systems and Planetary Research in Berlin contributed two electronic modules, including the heart of the satellite, the focal plane module, whose thermo-mechanical stability makes the high-precision measurements possible.

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Background articles

About the mis­sion

CHEOPS conducts its observations from a low, Sun-synchronous Earth orbit at an altitude of 700 kilometres and will initially operate for three-and-a-half years, with the option to a five-year extension.

CHEOPS ex­am­ines ex­o­plan­e­tary can­di­dates

2019 saw the launch of a ‘S-class’ mission into space. In this case, however, the ‘S’ does not stand for ‘supersize’ or ‘super performance’, but for ‘small’. CHEOPS – CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite – is the first small-scale mission by the European Space Agency (ESA). Its primary objective is to investigate ‘exoplanets’ discovered by other satellites, or from Earth-based telescopes using the radial velocity method.

A small space tele­scope on a big mis­sion

The 120-centimetre-long CHEOPS telescope has a 30-centimetre aperture and weighs less than 60 kilograms. Together with its platform, it weighs just 300 kilograms. As such, the space telescope does not require its own launch vehicle for the journey into space.

Participating DLR institutes and facilities

Institute of Optical Sensor Systems

Institute of Planetary Research

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Contact

Falk Dambowsky

Head of Media Relations, Editor
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Corporate Communications
Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne
Tel: +49 2203 601-3959

Prof. Heike Rauer

Director
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Planetary Research
Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin

Juan Cabrera Perez

Department Head
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Institute of Planetary Research
Extrasolar Planets and Atmospheres
Rutherfordstraße 2, 12489 Berlin