About

What is the potential for life on planets orbiting the galaxy’s most common stars?

The Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat (SPARCS) is a NASA-funded space telescope designed to study the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from low-mass stars and its impact on potential extraterrestrial life. Key features of SPARCS include:

• Size: Comparable to a family-size cereal box (6U CubeSat format).
• Target: M and K dwarf stars, the most common in the Milky Way.
• Mission: First to provide long-term, continuous UV monitoring of low-mass stars.
• Significance: Data crucial for understanding exoplanet habitability.

SPARCS will observe 10-20 low-mass stars over days to weeks, measuring UV radiation in two bands: 153-171 nm and 260-300 nm. This information will help scientists:

• Understand how UV radiation affects planetary atmospheres.
• Interpret biosignatures detected by other missions, like the James Webb Space Telescope.
• Guide future searches for extraterrestrial life.

By studying these stars’ UV behavior, SPARCS will provide valuable insights into the potential for life on their orbiting planets, enhancing our understanding of habitability in the galaxy.