Perspectives on fundamental cosmology from Low Earth Orbit and the Moon

The next generation of space-based experiments will go hunting for answers to cosmology's key open questions which revolve around inflation, dark matter and dark energy. Low earth orbit and lunar missions within the European Space Agency's Human and Robotic Exploration programme can push our knowledge forward in all of these three fields. A radio interferometer on the Moon, a cold atom interferometer in low earth orbit and a gravitational wave interferometer on the Moon are highlighted as the most fruitful missions to plan and execute in the mid-term.

Automated summary

The next generation of space-based experiments will search for answers to cosmology's key open questions regarding inflation, dark matter and dark energy. Missions within the European Space Agency's Human and Robotic Exploration programme, including low earth orbit and lunar missions, have the potential to advance our understanding in these three fields. The most promising missions to plan and carry out in the mid-term are a radio interferometer on the Moon, a cold atom interferometer in low earth orbit, and a gravitational wave interferometer on the Moon.