A feasible baseline design for the LIFE mission to search for biosignatures outside the solar system

The LIFE mission is a proposed mid-infrared space interferometer designed primarily to investigate atmospheric properties of at least 30 terrestrial planets in the habitable zone. For this full sample, oxygen levels at 10% of current Earth (the Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event) are detectable, as well as key markers including planetary radius, CO2, H2O and CH4. Much of the LIFE parameter space is unobservable by the Habitable Worlds Observatory, making it highly complementary. I will briefly summarise the key results of our 11 papers in the past 3 years, especially focusing on distinguishing multi-planet systems, required signal-to-noise, wavelength range and resolving power for atmospheric retrievals, and use this as a motivation for a current baseline design. I will show that this baseline design is highly feasible, with far fewer deployments or unique moving components than many modern scientific missions. Finally, I’ll briefly outline the couple of low technological readiness level mission components or systems, our plans to become mission ready and opportunities for community involvement across our science, mission and technology teams.