Twinkle: a satellite spectroscopy mission for the next phase of exoplanet science

The Twinkle telescope is a space-based observatory conceived to study solar system objects, exoplanets, brown dwarfs, protoplanetary disks and stars. The satellite is based on a high-heritage platform and will carry a visible and infrared spectrograph providing simultaneous broad wavelength coverage. Launching into a Sun-synchronous low-Earth polar orbit, Twinkle will operate from a highly stable thermal environment for a baseline lifetime of seven years.

In this presentation, the Twinkle team will provide the latest updates on the mission and will highlight the work undertaken by the Founding Members of the extrasolar survey, showcasing the many initial science themes under development. Focusing on the objectives, scientific justification, and high-level observation plan we will explore how Twinkle will contribute to a broad range of astrophysics research.

Additionally, we explore the observational programme being developed to provide both initial characterisation and simultaneous ground and space-based observations, demonstrating how Twinkle’s broad spectral coverage can be complementary across multiple ground and space-based telescopes.