UV facilities for the investigation of the origin of life

Abstract

This contribution summarizes the status and capabilities of current and future UV facilities for the investigation of the origin of life. The main operational project for UV astronomy is the Hubble Space Telescope with versatile instrumentation for astrobiological research. ASTROSAT/UVIT is also operational and providing useful information on the magnetic activity and flaring frequency of M-type stars. There are three projects currently under development: a cubesat mission, Colorado Ultraviolet Transit Experiment (CUTE), devoted to the detection of extended exospheres from giant planets orbiting M-type stars; and two medium size missions: Spektr-UF/WSO-UV and the telescope that will be operated in association with the China Space Station. The instrumentation for Spektr-UF/WSO-UV is very versatile and include imaging and spectroscopic capabilities; the mission is getting ready for a launch in 2025. Finally, there is section devoted to the coming projects and their foreseen impact. The section includes from flagship scale missions such as LUVOIR to small cubesat projects devoted to the investigation of the interstellar and interplanetary compounds through their impact in the UV extinction curve.