The search for biosignatures on potentially habitable exoplanets and determining the frequency of life in the Universe are among the most ambitious astrophysical challenges of the coming decades. Toward this goal, NASA is developing the Habitable World Observatory (HWO) mission, expected to launch in the 2040s, with the aim of detecting and characterizing the atmospheres of over 25 Earth-like exoplanets in the visible spectrum. Detecting these planets—around 10 billion times fainter than their host stars and often hidden in stellar glare—demands cutting-edge instruments that require advanced wavefront sensing and control technologies to reject starlight and reveal the faint planetary signals. Novel observing strategies and optimized image processing techniques are a key asset, both to achieve the necessary starlight suppression and to relax the stringent stability constraints on the observatory.
In the ESCAPE project, we focus on developing integrated solutions to enhance observing methods and data processing techniques with future space telescopes. Leveraging wavefront sensors, deformable mirrors, and cumulative observational data, ESCAPE aims to maximize the detection potential of these instruments. Building on experience with exoplanet imaging on the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and leading ground-based imagers, we are prototyping methods to improve the exoplanet sensitivity of future space missions. A crucial milestone will be the Roman Space Telescope, set for launch in 2026, which offers the unique opportunity to test and validate ESCAPE’s image processing methods through its Coronagraph instrument, a stepping stone toward HWO. As part of the Roman Coronagraph Community Participating Program (CPP) team, ESCAPE is working to integrate innovative post-processing methods directly into the Roman Coronagraph, paving the way for the future implementations in HWO and for advancing our ability to image exoEarths.
