NASA is adding an instrument to the European Space Agency’s ARIEL spacecraft.(Credit: ESA/STFC RAL Space/UCL/Europlanet-Science Office)

NASA announced last week that it will contribute to a European Space Agency mission scheduled to launch in 2028. The spacecraft, called ARIEL (for Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey), will be the first space mission dedicated to studying exoplanet atmospheres. 

During its primary mission lasting some four years, ARIEL will study th