CoRoT

Lore & Background

CoRoT detected its first extrasolar planet, CoRoT-1b, in May 2007, just three months after observations began. Among its notable discoveries was CoRoT-7b, found in 2009, which became the first exoplanet shown to have a rock or metal-dominated composition. The mission originally scheduled to end 2.5 years after launch but was extended to 2013. On 2 November 2012, a computer failure made it impossible to retrieve data from its telescope; repair attempts failed, and on 24 June 2013 it was announced that CoRoT had been retired and would be decommissioned by lowering its orbit to burn up in the atmosphere.

Reader's Guide

CoRoT opened the way for more advanced exoplanet probes such as Kepler and TESS by demonstrating the feasibility of space-based transit detection. Its ability to continuously monitor thousands of stars for months enabled the discovery of short-period planets and provided asteroseismic data that helped determine stellar masses, ages, and chemical compositions. The mission's cost was €170 million, with 75% paid by CNES and 25% by Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Brazil, and ESA. Despite a computer failure in 2012 that ended data collection, CoRoT's legacy includes the first confirmed rocky exoplanet and a catalog of over 30 exoplanets, as well as foundational asteroseismology results that advanced stellar physics.

Did You Know?

• The satellite observed perpendicular to its orbital plane, allowing up to 150 days of continuous observation.
• CoRoT suffered a fatal computer failure on 2 November 2012, ending its ability to retrieve telescope data.