Speaker
Description
One of the most exciting planned missions for exoplanet science is the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), the telescope likely to yield the first images and biosignature detections from habitable zone exo-Earth twins. The mission is led by NASA but other space agencies including UKSA and ESA may provide significant contributions. Previous missions such as JWST have shown that such buy-in can yield enormous benefits and UK contributions to HWO instrumentation could help ensure a leading role for UK scientists in HWO science. Here I present an update from the UK exoplanet community and the efforts which are ongoing to make the most of this opportunity. In particular, I present the results of a survey which was conducted among UK exoplanet scientists, and I report on the outcome and community consensus of HWO discussions during the recent UK Exoplanet Community Meeting (UKEXOM). I discuss which aspects of HWO are seen as most important to UK exoplanet scientists. I discuss in which areas the UK could make substantial instrument contributions to HWO and how strategic choices will enable the UK community to remain at the global forefront of exoplanet science.
