Workshop Summary

Abstract

This international workshop on “Infrared Space Interferometry for Astrophysics and Detection of Earth-like Planets” has been, for several reasons, a very exciting one. First of all it has brought together over a hundred people with a wide variety of expertise: theoretical and observational astronomers, astrophysicists, laboratory physicists, chemists, space engineers, science journalists and science managers/administrators. Second, the meeting took place shortly after we learned from the first discoveries of planets orbiting solar type stars. This had a strong impact on the spirit of the workshop. Maybe that therefore most of the attention was directed to planet detection. Third, but not least, the interest in planet detection and infrared interferometry in the US, Japanese and European astronomy communities is rapidly increasing, which is reflected in a growing commitment by the corresponding space agencies to carry out the applicable space missions. See ESA’s Horizon 2000+ plan and NASA’s plans for the Exploration of Neighboring Planetary Systems (ExNPS road map). The resulting outlook is very stimulating for the research and development of the technology needed to accomplish these missions.