Future Exoplanet Space Missions: Spectroscopy and Coronographic Imaging

The spectroscopy of exoplanet atmospheres as well as the direct detection of exoplanets using coronographic techniques is best done using space-based facilities. In the area of spectroscopy, the ARIEL mission is a proposed space telescope devoted to the characterization of the atmospheres of 500 planets from giant gas planets down to super-Earths. With respect to efforts to image directly exoplanets, we discuss some current plans, and ideas for the future, to place coronographic technologies into space. These include "internal, " i.e., coronagraphs directly at the telescope, and "external" devices, viz., occulters exterior to the telescope.