The Just-Approved European ARIEL Mission Will Be First Dedicated to Probing Exoplanet Atmospheres

  This column was written by my colleague Elizabeth Tasker, now at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciences (ISAS).  Trained as an astrophysicist, she researches planet and galaxy formation and also writes on space science topics.  Her book, "The Planet Factory," came out last year.   The European Space …