Search for Terrestrial Planets with the Space Interferometry Mission
Authors:
          Chris McCarthy
          Debra Fischer
          Geoff Marcy
          K. L. Tah
          Peter Driscoll

Abstract:
          The Space Interferometry Mission will return unprecedented astrometric precision of 1 microarcsecond, enabling the detection of planets with masses few times the mass of the Earth around the nearest stars. With launch in 2010, SIM will discover and provide dynamical masses for the planets observed by Terrestrial Planet Finder. To achieve 1 microarcsecond precision in narrow angle mode, SIM requires an exquisitely stable reference frame established by distant background stars, all within 1 degree of each target star to be searched for planets. We present the current status of SIM's search for extrasolar terrestrial planets.