Core Viewpoint - The Chinese Academy of Sciences announced plans for a space exploration satellite aimed at finding Earth-like exoplanets, referred to as "Earth 2.0," during the latest highlights release of the space science pilot project on November 24 [1] Group 1: Importance of Finding "Earth 2.0" - The search for "Earth 2.0" is driven by human curiosity about the existence of life beyond Earth and the potential for finding a backup home for humanity amid existential threats like resource depletion and climate change [2] - Discovering "Earth 2.0" could provide insights into Earth's past and future, and answer philosophical questions about humanity's uniqueness in the universe [2] Group 2: Criteria for "Earth 2.0" - "Earth 2.0" must meet strict criteria, including being a rocky planet with a radius between 0.8 to 1.25 times that of Earth, ensuring a solid surface and a stable atmosphere [3] - It should orbit a sun-like star within the habitable zone to maintain liquid water, with a suitable atmosphere to filter harmful radiation and support life [3] Group 3: Current Discoveries in Exoplanet Research - The Kepler Space Telescope has discovered over 6,000 exoplanets, but none have been found that are both Earth-sized and within the habitable zone [4] - Significant milestones in exoplanet discovery include the first confirmed exoplanets in 1992 and the identification of Kepler-186f as the first Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone in 2014 [5] - China's contributions to exoplanet research include the discovery of "super-Earth" Kepler-725c, which is about ten times the mass of Earth, showcasing advancements in astronomical detection techniques [5]

Core Insights - The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is set to implement a space exploration satellite program during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, which includes projects like the "Hongmeng Plan" and "Kuafu II" [1][2] - The program aims to address significant frontier issues such as the origins of the universe, space weather, and life, with a focus on achieving breakthroughs in areas like the cosmic dark ages and exoplanet detection [1] Group 1 - The CAS has successfully launched eight scientific satellite missions since 2011, achieving several major original results and setting multiple records in China and globally [1] - The "Hongmeng Plan" will utilize a "1+9" satellite configuration to investigate the early dark ages and the evolution of the universe [1] - "Kuafu II" will provide direct imaging of the solar poles, marking a significant advancement from the previous "Kuafu I" mission, which monitored the sun from the ecliptic plane [1] Group 2 - The motivation for exoplanet exploration stems from human curiosity about the existence of life beyond Earth, particularly on planets similar to Earth [2] - The Kepler Space Telescope has discovered over 6,000 exoplanets, primarily "super-Earths" that are larger than Earth, but no Earth-sized rocky planets in the habitable zone have been found yet [2] - China's upcoming exoplanet survey mission aims to locate "Earth 2.0" within the next five years [2]