LHS 1140 System
LHS 1140 b · Confirmed retained-atmosphere target
Distance from Sol: 48.9 light-years. Priority B. A 2026 study detected escaping helium in the upper atmosphere, providing strong evidence that the rocky habitable-zone planet retained an atmosphere. Lower-atmosphere composition, surface conditions, ocean state, climate stability, and habitability remain unresolved. Robotic precursor only.
Destination Catalog Status
✓ System Nominal
Catalog Versionv3.4.0
Total Destinations19
Active ThreadsAll Systems Go
2026 Atmospheric Detection
EvidenceEscaping helium detected
InterpretationStrong evidence of a retained upper atmosphere
Observation BehaviorSignal reported in 2024 observations and absent in 2025, indicating variable escape
Claim BoundaryNo confirmed surface ocean, biosignature, life, or Earth-like climate
Mission planning should now prioritize atmospheric depth profiling, lower-atmosphere composition, escape-rate monitoring, stellar-wind interaction, magnetosphere assessment, and ocean/surface discrimination.
Destination Metadata
| Destination Class | Future Exo-Planet Destination |
|---|---|
| Parent System | LHS 1140 System |
| Primary Body | LHS 1140 b |
| Distance from Sol | 48.9 light-years |
| Probe Requirement | Atmosphere, radiation, magnetosphere, water-signature, surface, and biosafety audit |
| Atmospheric Status | Retained atmosphere detected; helium observed escaping from the upper atmosphere |
| Scientific Confidence | Atmosphere evidence strong; surface and habitability interpretation unresolved |
| Human Arrival Status | Not approved — robotic precursor only after probe audit |
Nearest does not mean best. Earth-mass does not mean Earth-like. This page is a destination record for technical and story continuity.
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