I think this is perhaps one of the most exciting projects, along with the Terrestrial Planet Imager, that NASA is working on at the moment.
I wrote an article on it in the Irish Examiner a few years ago. The results of this kind of project could have huge consequences for humanity, and our place in the universe.
Its exciting that its reached another stage – and over the next few years the project will become concrete, and eventually, within perhaps 20 years, the first image of a pale blue dot will come on our screens – life on another planet.