NASA Starshade Plan to Hunt Earth-Like Exoplanets

NASA's Hybrid Observatory for Earth-like Exoplanets (HOEE) proposes a 328-foot starshade in orbit to block starlight, letting ground telescopes spot planets a billion times fainter. The Phase II proposal seeks $750,000; the project could cost about $1 billion, far less than the $11 billion Habitable Worlds Observatory.