Basic science.

Large investments are being done world-wide to address key problems like the origin of life, the formation and characteristics of exoplanets, the chemical enrichment of galaxies and intergalactic medium and the properties of the large scale gravitational field pervading the Universe. This activity will address:

  • the identification of the key science issues requiring access to the UV range in coordination with the existing facilities in other spectral ranges.
  • to act as leading scientific body to supervise the trade-off process during the definition of the road-map.

Technical developments.

There are several areas requiring technological developments, more prominently research on coatings and detectors that permit efficient and accurate multiwavelength studies. Development of complex, light and robust optical elements is also required. The group will work on novel technologies such as diffraction-based imagers (e.g., the Fresnel Imager) or in the proposal for Lunar-based facilities. The tasks addressed by this group will be:

  • to provide updated information of the current status of the technology in the different areas of expertise.
  • to act as leading technological body during the definition of the road-map.

Definition of the road map

This task is the core activity of the working group. It will receive the inputs from basic science and technological developments, together with additional inputs from community groups, national Agencies and the rest of the Astronomy Facilities (through the Division B activities) to define a realistic work-map. This road map will lead to definition and poposal of activities within the major space agencies, to lead to new missions in the space-UV.