STEP is a part of the Danish Roadmap for Research Infrastructure, as approved in 2020. Specifically, STEP is a proposed astronomic satellite mission aimed at strengthening the collaboration between the Danish universities and industry.

STEP is planned to operate for at least 4 years and will collect time-series data related to stars and exoplanets. The satellite used for the mission is equipped with a 20 cm telescope and a highly sensitive spectrograph covering the electromagnetic spectrum from near ultraviolet to visible red light.

STEP includes all the phases for an end-to-end space mission:

1. Assessment and pre-design phase
2. Design phase
3. Implementation and test phase
4. Launch and commissioning phase
5. Operational and science analysis phase

SCIENTIFIC EFFECT

Denmark plays an active role in several international space missions related to stars and exoplanets. Data from two NASA missions (Kepler and TESS) and ESA’s future PLATO and ARIEL missions supplemented by earth-based facilities such as ESO, NOT and SONG form the basis for a series of research projects at Danish universities.

With the types of measurements that STEP can perform, the mission will be a crucial facility in answering key questions related to planets and stars.

SOCIOECONOMIC BENEFITS

The satellite will strengthen collaboration between researchers and Danish industry. Specifically, it is expected that STEP will contribute to creating new technology within, for example, communications between space and the Earth and in data handling.

As STEP will help to confirm the existence of new exoplanets, it will also contribute to our understanding of the possibility of life on other planets and thereby assist in evoking the interest of the wider public in space exploration.

PART OF THE DANISH ROADMAP FOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE

The STEP mission has been included in the Danish Roadmap for Research Infrastructure of February 2020, issued by the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science.

In January 2022 the ministry announced the support of DKK 31.2 million for STEP. The estimated total cost for the project is DKK 85 million.

STEP is a collaboration between Aalborg University, Aarhus University, Copenhagen University, The University of Southern Denmark, The Technical University of Denmark, and The National Meteorological Institute.