Space Missions for Exoplanet Science

Abstract

Exoplanets are most often detected and characterised through precision observations in the time domain, which are most effectively measured from the stable space environment. Most of the exoplanet detections as well as atmospheric observations to date have been made using space-based facilities. The importance of such observations will accelerate in the 2020s with six space missions expected to be operational in this decade. This chapter surveys the state-of-the-art and future of space missions for exoplanet detection and characterisation, and discusses the major questions, opportunities and challenges on this frontier.