CHEOPS in-flight performance: A comprehensive look at the first 3.5 yr of operations

• Autores: Fortier, Andrés; Simon, A. E.; Broeg, C.; Olofsson, G.; Deline, A.; Wilson, T. G.; Maxted, P. F. L.; Brandeker, A.; Collier Cameron, A.; Beck, M.; Bekkelien, A.; Billot, N.; Bonfanti, A.; Bruno, G.; Cabrera, J.; Delrez, L.; Demory, Brice Olivier; Futyan, D.; Florén, H. G.; Günther, M. N.; Heitzmann, A.; Hoyer, S.; Isaak, K. G.; Sousa, S. G.; Stalport, M.; Petrucci, Romina Paola; Villaver, E.; Vinkó, J.; Walton, N. A.; Wells, R.; Wolter, D.
• Año de publicación: 2024
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: SPACE VEHICLES: INSTRUMENTS; TECHNIQUES: PHOTOMETRIC; TELESCOPES; PLANETS AND SATELLITES: DETECTION; PLANETS AND SATELLITES: TERRESTRIAL PLANETS
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

Context. Since the discovery of the first exoplanet almost three decades ago, the number of known exoplanets has increased dramatically. By beginning of the 2000s it was clear that dedicated facilities to advance our studies in this field were needed. The CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS) is a space telescope specifically designed to monitor transiting exoplanets orbiting bright stars. In September 2023, CHEOPS completed its nominal mission duration of 3.5 yr and remains in excellent operational conditions. As a testament to this, the mission has been extended until the end of 2026. Aims. Scientific and instrumental data have been collected throughout in-orbit commissioning and nominal operations, enabling a comprehensive analysis of the mission’s performance. In this article, we present the results of this analysis with a twofold goal. First, we aim to inform the scientific community about the present status of the mission and what can be expected as the instrument ages. Secondly, we intend for this publication to serve as a legacy document for future missions, providing insights and lessons learned from the successful operation of CHEOPS. Methods. To evaluate the instrument performance in flight, we developed a comprehensive monitoring and characterisation (M&C) programme. It consists of dedicated observations that allow us to characterise the instrument’s response and continuously monitor its behaviour. In addition to the standard collection of nominal science and housekeeping data, these observations provide valuable input for detecting, modelling, and correcting instrument systematics, discovering and addressing anomalies, and comparing the instrument’s actual performance with expectations. Results. The precision of the CHEOPS measurements has enabled the mission objectives to be met and exceeded. The satellite’s performance remains stable and reliable, ensuring accurate data collection throughout its operational life. Careful modelling of the instrumental systematics allows the data quality to be significantly improved during the light curve analysis phase, resulting in more precise scientific measurements. Conclusions. CHEOPS is compliant with the driving scientific requirements of the mission. Although visible, the ageing of the instrument has not affected the mission’s performance. The satellite’s capabilities remain robust, and we are confident that we will continue to acquire high-quality data during the mission extension.
Fil: Fortier, Andrés. University of Bern; Suiza. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Simon, A. E.. University of Bern; Suiza
Fil: Broeg, C.. University of Bern; Suiza
Fil: Olofsson, G.. Stockholms Universitet. Departamento de Astronomia; Suecia
Fil: Deline, A.. Universidad de Ginebra; Suiza
Fil: Wilson, T. G.. University of Warwick; Reino Unido
Fil: Maxted, P. F. L.. Keele University.; Reino Unido
Fil: Brandeker, A.. Stockholms Universitet. Departamento de Astronomia; Suecia
Fil: Collier Cameron, A.. University of St. Andrews; Reino Unido
Fil: Beck, M.. Universidad de Ginebra; Suiza
Fil: Bekkelien, A.. Universidad de Ginebra; Suiza
Fil: Billot, N.. Universidad de Ginebra; Suiza
Fil: Bonfanti, A.. Austrian Academy Of Sciences (oaw);
Fil: Bruno, G.. Inaf-catania Astrophysical Observatory; Italia
Fil: Cabrera, J.. German Aerospace Center.; Alemania
Fil: Delrez, L.. Université de Liège; Bélgica
Fil: Demory, Brice Olivier. University of Bern; Suiza
Fil: Futyan, D.. Universidad de Ginebra; Suiza
Fil: Florén, H. G.. Stockholms Universitet. Departamento de Astronomia; Suecia
Fil: Günther, M. N.. Agencia Espacial Europea; España
Fil: Heitzmann, A.. Universidad de Ginebra; Suiza
Fil: Hoyer, S.. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia
Fil: Isaak, K. G.. Agencia Espacial Europea; España
Fil: Sousa, S. G.. Aix Marseille Université; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia
Fil: Stalport, M.. Research Centre For Astronomy And Earth Sciences; Hungría. Université de Liège; Bélgica
Fil: Petrucci, Romina Paola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentina
Fil: Villaver, E.. Universidad de La Laguna; España. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias; España
Fil: Vinkó, J.. Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences; Hungría. ELTE Eötvös Loránd University; Hungría. University of Szeged; Hungría
Fil: Walton, N. A.. University of Cambridge; Estados Unidos
Fil: Wells, R.. University of Bern; Suiza
Fil: Wolter, D.. Institute of Planetary Research; Alemania