Decadal Survey Research Articles

NASA’s astrophysics cross-observatory science support (ACROSS) initiative: enabling time-domain and multimessenger astrophysics

The Astro2020 Decadal Survey recommended an investment in Time-Domain and Multimessenger Astrophysics (TDAMM) as the top-priority sustaining activity in space for the coming decade. One aspect of NASA’s response to this recommendation is a pilot project, the Astrophysics Cross-Observatory Science Support (ACROSS) initiative, designed to provide support to both missions and observers as they pursue TDAMM science. Here, we present our observations of needs in the community and initial plans for ACROSS activities, including services to facilitate and improve cross-mission follow-up planning and execution; a multimessenger web portal with links to existing mission resources, community tools, and information targeted for TDAMM general observers; development of “Smart target-of-opportunity submission page” proof-of-concepts; and ongoing development of a potential TDAMM general observing competitive grant solicitation. As the ACROSS pilot phase begins, we invite discussion of our plans with both missions and observers to better understand their needs and concerns.

Dynamical Viability Assessment for Habitable Worlds Observatory Targets

Exoplanetary science is increasingly prioritizing efforts toward direct imaging of planetary systems, with emphasis on those that may enable the detection and characterization of potentially habitable exoplanets. The recent 2020 Astronomy and Astrophysics decadal survey recommended the development of a space-based direct imaging mission that has subsequently been referred to as the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). A fundamental challenge in the preparatory work for the HWO search for exo-Earths is the selection of suitable stellar targets. Much of the prior efforts regarding the HWO targets has occurred within the context of exoplanet surveys that have characterized the stellar properties for the nearest stars. The preliminary input catalog for HWO consists of 164 stars, of which 30 are known exoplanet hosts to 70 planets. Here, we provide a dynamical analysis for these 30 systems, injecting a terrestrial planet mass into the habitable zone (HZ) and determining the constraints on stable orbit locations due to the influence of the known planets. For each system, we calculate the percentage of the HZ that is dynamically viable for the potential presence of a terrestrial planet, providing an additional metric for inclusion of the stars within the HWO target list. Our analysis shows that, for 11 of the systems, less than 50% of the HZ is dynamically viable, primarily due to the presence of giant planets whose orbits pass near or through the HZ. These results demonstrate the impact that known system architectures can have on direct imaging target selection and overall system habitability.

MAUVE: An Ultraviolet Astrophysics Probe Mission Concept

We present the mission concept “Mission to Analyze the UltraViolet universE” (MAUVE), a wide-field spectrometer and imager conceived during the inaugural NASA Astrophysics Mission Design School. MAUVE responds to the 2023 Announcement of Opportunity for Probe-class missions, with a budget cap of $1 billion, and would hypothetically launch in 2031. However, the formulation of MAUVE was an educational exercise and the mission is not being developed further. The Principle Investigator-led science of MAUVE aligns with the priorities outlined in the 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey, enabling new characterizations of exoplanet atmospheres, the early-time light curves of some of the universe’s most explosive transients, and the poorly-understood extragalactic background light. Because the Principle Investigator science occupies 30% of the observing time available during the mission’s 5 yr lifespan, we provide an observing plan that would allow for 70% of the observing time to be used for General Observer programs, with community-solicited proposals. The onboard detector (THISTLE) claims significant heritage from the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on Hubble, but extends its wavelength range down to the extreme UV. We note that MAUVE would be the first satellite in decades with the ability to access this regime of the electromagnetic spectrum. MAUVE has a field of view of 900″ × 900″, a photometric sensitivity extending to m UV ≤ 24, and a resolving power of R ∼ 1000. This paper provides full science and mission traceability matrices for this concept, and also outlines cost and scheduling timelines aimed at enabling a within-budget mission and an on-time launch.

Determining research priorities using machine learning

We summarize our exploratory investigation into whether Machine Learning (ML) techniques applied to publicly available professional text can substantially augment strategic planning for astronomy. We find that an approach based on Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) using content drawn from astronomy journal papers can be used to infer high-priority research areas. While the LDA models are challenging to interpret, we find that they may be strongly associated with meaningful keywords and scientific papers which allow for human interpretation of the topic models.Significant correlation is found between the results of applying these models to the previous decade of astronomical research (“1998–2010” corpus) and the contents of the Science Frontier Panels report which contains high-priority research areas identified by the 2010 National Academies’ Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey (“DS2010” corpus). Significant correlations also exist between model results of the 1998–2010 corpus and the submitted whitepapers to the Decadal Survey (“whitepapers” corpus). Importantly, we derive predictive metrics based on these results which can provide leading indicators of which content modeled by the topic models will become highly cited in the future. Using these identified metrics and the associations between papers and topic models it is possible to identify important papers for planners to consider.A preliminary version of our work was presented by Thronson et al. (2021) and Thomas et al. (2022).

Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE)

Context. Following the recommendations to NASA (in the Astro2020 Decadal survey) and ESA (through the Voyage2050 process), the search for life on exoplanets will be a priority in the next decades. Two concepts for direct imaging space missions are being developed for this purpose: the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) and the Large Interferometer for Exoplanets (LIFE). These two concepts operate in different spectral regimes: HWO is focused on reflected light spectra in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared (UV/VIS/NIR), while LIFE will operate in the mid-infrared (MIR) to capture the thermal emission of temperate exoplanets. Aims. In this study, we aim to assess the potential of HWO and LIFE to characterize a cloud-free Earth twin orbiting a Sun-like star at a distance of 10 pc, both as separate missions and in synergy with each other. We aim to quantify the increase in information that can be gathered by joint atmospheric retrievals on a habitable planet. Methods. We performed Bayesian retrievals on simulated data obtained by an HWO-like mission and a LIFE-like one separately, then jointly. We considered the baseline spectral resolutions currently assumed for these concepts and used two increasingly complex noise simulations, obtained using state-of-the-art noise simulators. Results. An HWO-like concept would allow one to strongly constrain H2O, O2, and O3 in the atmosphere of a cloud-free Earth twin, while the atmospheric temperature profile is not well constrained (with an average uncertainty ≈100 K). LIFE-like observations would strongly constrain CO2, H2O, and O3 and provide stronger constraints on the thermal atmospheric structure and surface temperature (down to ≈10 K uncertainty). For all the investigated scenarios, both missions would provide an upper limit on CH4. A joint retrieval on HWO and LIFE data would accurately define the atmospheric thermal profile and planetary parameters. It would decisively constrain CO2, H2O, O2, and O3 and find weak constraints on CO and CH4. The significance of the detection is in all cases greater than or equal to the single-instrument retrievals. Conclusions. Both missions provide specific information that is relevant for the characterization of a terrestrial habitable exoplanet, but the scientific yield can be maximized by considering synergistic studies of UV/VIS/NIR+MIR observations. The use of HWO and LIFE together will provide stronger constraints on biosignatures and life indicators, with the potential to be transformative for the search for life in the Universe.

Using synthetic disk-integrated reflectance spectra to constrain direct imaging sensitivity requirements for a Mars-like exoplanet

The 2020 Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics 11https://doi.org/10.17226/26141. recommended the prioritization of a space-based telescope capable of directly characterizing Earth-like exoplanets in reflected light. The planned suite of instruments onboard such a mission are expected to provide disk-integrated spectra with moderate spectral resolution and signal-to-noise (SNR). Although the detection and characterization of Earth-like exoplanets remains the primary focus of such a mission, land planets with limited available water, such as Mars, may be much more common. Mars-like exoplanets, therefore, are an equally significant set of targets when investigating the diverse climatologies and potential habitability of other worlds, especially if our own Solar System is any indication of planetary diversity. In this study, we constrain the direct imaging sensitivity requirements for observing and characterizing Mars-like exoplanets with the goal of informing future telescope design and mission planning. Employing an instrument noise model simulating a coronagraph-equipped, space-based telescope, spatially- and spectrally-resolved synthetic observations of Mars are produced. We evaluate the direct imaging sensitivity requirements across a range of wavelengths, from the ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (near-IR), to enable the spectral characterization of key atmospheric and surface features from disk-integrated reflectance spectra. Detectability at a given SNR is assessed through optical wavelength integration times for a range of phase angles, host star spectral types, and levels of atmospheric dustiness. Our results indicate that a Decadal-recommended space telescope featuring an aperture of 6-m is likely only proficient in detecting Mars-like exoplanets around K-type stars located within a 10 parsec (pc) radius from Earth. Furthermore, we demonstrate that when integrating over visible and near-IR wavelengths, required exposure times to detect such a planet are reasonable, especially near full phase angles. In the context of upcoming and proposed observatories, such as the Habitable Exoplanet Observatory (HabEx) and Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor (LUVOIR), our findings provide valuable insights into the direct imaging capabilities and optimal observational strategies needed for detecting and studying Mars-like exoplanets.

The Astrobiological Potential of the Uranian Moon System.

The 2023-2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey prioritized the Uranus Orbiter and Probe (UOP) mission concept as the next priority flagship mission. The UOP concept includes scientific studies of the Uranian moon system. Although the Uranian moons differ greatly from the ocean worlds in the Jovian and Saturnian systems, the emerging hypothesis is that some of them could at least sustain thin, potentially concentrated, oceans. Herein, we make a case that these moons are important and interesting targets of astrobiological research. Studying these worlds would provide critical astrobiological data related to their habitability, including origin, evolution, and potential death, as well as the formation and evolution of ocean worlds more broadly. There is a strong need for research that connects astrobiology to modeling and experimentation to better characterize the possible conditions of these worlds, and this will be critical in formulating and maximizing the potential science that could be done by a Uranus flagship mission.

The role of magnetar transient activity in time-domain and multimessenger astronomy

Time-domain and multimessenger astronomy (TDAMM) involves the study of transient and time-variable phenomena across various wavelengths and messengers. The Astro2020 Decadal Survey has identified TDAMM as the top priority for NASA in this decade, emphasizing its crucial role in advancing our understanding of the universe and driving new discoveries in astrophysics. The TDAMM community has come together to provide further guidance to funding agencies, aiming to define a clear path toward optimizing scientific returns in this research domain. This encompasses not only astronomy but also fundamental physics, offering insights into properties of gravity, the formation of heavy elements, the equation of state of dense matter, and quantum effects associated with extreme magnetic fields. Magnetars, neutron stars with the strongest magnetic fields in the universe, play a critical role in this context. We aim to underscore the significance of magnetars in TDAMM, highlighting the necessity of ensuring observational continuity, addressing current limitations, and outlining essential requirements to expand our knowledge in this field.

Exomoons and Exorings with the Habitable Worlds Observatory. I. On the Detection of Earth–Moon Analog Shadows and Eclipses

The highest priority recommendation of the Astro2020 Decadal Survey for space-based astronomy was the construction of an observatory capable of characterizing habitable worlds. In this paper series we explore the detectability of and interference from exomoons and exorings serendipitously observed with the proposed Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) as it seeks to characterize exoplanets, starting in this manuscript with Earth–Moon analog mutual events. Unlike transits, which only occur in systems viewed near edge-on, shadow (i.e., solar eclipse) and lunar eclipse mutual events occur in almost every star–planet–moon system. The cadence of these events can vary widely from ∼yearly to multiple events per day, as was the case in our younger Earth–Moon system. Leveraging previous space-based (EPOXI) light curves of a Moon transit and performance predictions from the LUVOIR-B concept, we derive the detectability of Moon analogs with HWO. We determine that Earth–Moon analogs are detectable with observation of ∼2–20 mutual events for systems within 10 pc, and larger moons should remain detectable out to 20 pc. We explore the extent to which exomoon mutual events can mimic planet features and weather. We find that HWO wavelength coverage in the near-infrared, specifically in the 1.4 μm water band where large moons can outshine their host planet, will aid in differentiating exomoon signals from exoplanet variability. Finally, we predict that exomoons formed through collision processes akin to our Moon are more likely to be detected in younger systems, where shorter orbital periods and favorable geometry enhance the probability and frequency of mutual events.

Radio transients from compact objects across the mass spectrum in the era of multi-messenger astronomy

Compact objects across the mass spectrum–from neutron stars to supermassive black holes–are progenitors and/or central engines for some of the most cataclysmic phenomena in the Universe. As such, they are associated with radio emission on a variety of timescales and represent key targets for multi-messenger astronomy. Observations of transients in the radio band can unveil the physics behind their central engines, ejecta, and the properties of their surroundings, crucially complementing information on their progenitors gathered from observations of other messengers (such as gravitational waves and neutrinos). In this contribution, we summarize observational opportunities and challenges ahead in the multi-messenger study of neutron stars and black holes using radio observations. We highlight the specific contribution of current U.S. national radio facilities and discuss expectations for the field focusing on the science that could be enabled by facilities recommended by the 2020 Decadal survey such as the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA).

The Vulcan Mission to Io: Lessons Learned during the 2022 JPL Planetary Science Summer School

A mission to Jupiter's moon Io, the most volcanically active body in the solar system, was suggested as a priority for the New Frontiers program in the 2013 Planetary Science Decadal Survey. We present a New Frontiers–class mission concept, Vulcan, that was designed as an educational exercise through the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s 2022 Planetary Science Summer School. Vulcan would leverage an instrument suite consisting of wide- and narrow-angle cameras, a thermal infrared spectrometer, two fluxgate magnetometers, and ion and electron electrostatic analyzers to conduct the most thorough investigation of Io to date. Using 78 flybys over a 2 yr primary science mission, Vulcan would characterize the effects of tidal forces on the differentiation state, crustal structure, and volcanism of Io and investigate potential interactions between Io's volcanoes, surface features, and atmosphere. Although Vulcan was developed as an academic exercise, we show that a New Frontiers–class mission to Io could achieve transformative science in both geophysics and plasma physics, unifying typically disparate subfields of planetary science. A dedicated mission to Io, in combination with the Europa Clipper and Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer missions, would address fundamental questions raised by the 2023 Planetary Science Decadal Survey and could complete our understanding of the spectrum of planetary habitability. Lessons learned from Vulcan could be applied to a New Frontiers 5 Io mission concept in the near future.

Mapping the Imprints of Stellar and Active Galactic Nucleus Feedback in the Circumgalactic Medium with X-Ray Microcalorimeters

The Astro2020 Decadal Survey has identified the mapping of the circumgalactic medium (CGM; the gaseous plasma around galaxies) as a key objective. We explore the prospects for characterizing the CGM in and around nearby galaxy halos with a future large-grasp X-ray microcalorimeter. We create realistic mock observations from hydrodynamical simulations (EAGLE, IllustrisTNG, and Simba) that demonstrate a wide range of potential measurements, which will address the open questions in galaxy formation and evolution. By including all background and foreground components in our mock observations, we show why it is impossible to perform these measurements with current instruments, such as X-ray CCDs, and why only microcalorimeters will allow us to distinguish the faint CGM emission from the bright Milky Way (MW) foreground emission lines. We find that individual halos of MW mass can, on average and depending on star formation rate, be traced out to large radii, around R 500, and for larger galaxies even out to R 200, using prominent emission lines, such as O vii, or O viii. Furthermore, we show that emission-line ratios for individual halos can reveal the radial temperature structure. Substructure measurements show that it will be possible to relate azimuthal variations to the feedback mode of the galaxy. We demonstrate the ability to construct temperature, velocity, and abundance ratio maps from spectral fitting for individual galaxy halos, which reveal rotation features, active galactic nucleus outbursts, and enrichment.

Setting the Stage for the Search for Life with the Habitable Worlds Observatory: Properties of 164 Promising Planet-survey Targets

The Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2020 has recommended that NASA realize a large IR/optical/UV space telescope optimized for high-contrast imaging and spectroscopy of ∼25 exo-Earths and transformative general astrophysics. The NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEP) has subsequently released a list of 164 nearby (d < 25 pc) targets deemed the most accessible to survey for potentially habitable exoplanets with the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). We present a catalog of system properties for the 164 ExEP targets, including 1744 abundance measurements for 14 elements from the Hypatia Catalog and 924 photometry measurements spanning from 151.6 nm to 22 μm in the GALEX, Strömgren, Tycho, Gaia, Two Micron All Sky Survey, and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer bandpasses. We independently derive stellar properties for these systems by modeling their spectral energy distributions with Bayesian model averaging. Additionally, by consulting the literature, we identify TESS flare rates for 46 stars, optical variability for 78 stars, and X-ray emission for 46 stars in our sample. We discuss our catalog in the context of planet habitability and draw attention to key gaps in our knowledge where precursor science can help to inform HWO mission design trade studies in the near future. Notably, only 33 of the 164 stars in our sample have reliable space-based UV measurements, and only 40 have a mid-IR measurement. We also find that phosphorus, a bioessential element, has only been measured in 11 of these stars, motivating future abundance surveys. Our catalog is publicly available and we advocate for its use in future studies of promising HWO targets.

Methods and Applications of Space Understanding in Indoor Environment—A Decade Survey

The demand for digitizing manufacturing and controlling processes has been steadily increasing in recent years. Digitization relies on different techniques and equipment, which produces various data types and further influences the process of space understanding and area recognition. This paper provides an updated view of these data structures and high-level categories of techniques and methods leading to indoor environment segmentation and the discovery of its semantic meaning. To achieve this, we followed the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology and covered a wide range of solutions, from floor plan understanding through 3D model reconstruction and scene recognition to indoor navigation. Based on the obtained SLR results, we identified three different taxonomies (the taxonomy of underlying data type, of performed analysis process, and of accomplished task), which constitute different perspectives we can adopt to study the existing works in the field of space understanding. Our investigations clearly show that the progress of works in this field is accelerating, leading to more sophisticated techniques that rely on multidimensional structures and complex representations, while the processing itself has become focused on artificial intelligence-based methods.

Uranus Orbiter and Probe: A Radio Science Investigation to Determine the Planet’s Gravity Field, Depth of the Winds, and Tidal Deformations

The most recent Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey has proposed Uranus as the target for NASA’s next large-scale mission. The interior structure and atmosphere of the planet are currently poorly understood, and objectives for investigating Uranus’s deeper regions and composition are highly ranked. Traditionally, gravity science has served as one of the primary means for probing the depths of planetary bodies and inferring their internal density distributions. In this work, we present precise numerical simulations of an onboard radio science experiment designed to determine Uranus’s gravity field and tidal deformations, which would offer a rare view into the planet’s interior. We focus on the mission’s orbital planning, discussing crucial parameters such as the number of pericenter passes, orbital inclination, and periapsis altitude necessary to meet the gravity measurement requirements for a Uranus orbiter. Our findings suggest that eight close encounters may be sufficient to determine the zonal gravity field up to J 8 with a relative accuracy of 10%, if the trajectory is optimized. This would allow for the decoupling of the gravity field components due to interior structure and zonal winds. Additionally, we find that the expected end-of-mission uncertainty on Uranus’s Love number k 22 is of order ∼0.01 (3σ). This level of accuracy may offer crucial information about Uranus’s inner state and allow for discriminating between a liquid and solid core, thus shedding light on crucial aspects of the planet’s formation and evolution.

Commissioning of Upgrades to T6 to Study Giant Planet Entry

The scientific potential of a mission to the ice giants is well recognized and has been identified by NASA and ESA as a high priority on several occasions, most recently in the 2023–2032 Decadal Survey. The payload capacity of such a spacecraft is limited by the heat shield thickness, which must be sized conservatively due to a lack of reliable data for convective and radiative heat flux along the proposed entry trajectories. Major upgrades to the Oxford T6 Stalker Tunnel have been commissioned that allow study of giant planet entry trajectories, including a flammable gas handling system, a Mach 10 expansion nozzle, and a steel shock tube with optical access. Initial testing has been completed in shock tube and expansion tunnel modes, with peak shock speeds of 18.9 km/s achieved. Convective heat flux and surface pressure were measured at several locations on a 45° sphere cone model in expansion tunnel mode. Measurements of the radiating shock layer were made in shock tube mode to assess the effect of CH4 concentration. This work establishes the first high-enthalpy giant planet entry test bed in Europe.

FarView: An in-situ manufactured lunar far side radio array concept for 21-cm Dark Ages cosmology

FarView is an early-stage concept for a large, low-frequency radio observatory, manufactured in-situ on the lunar far side using metals extracted from the lunar regolith. It consists of 100,000 dipole antennas in compact subarrays distributed over a large area but with empty space between subarrays in a core-halo structure. FarView covers a total area of ∼200 km2, has a dense core within the inner ∼36 km2, and a ∼power-law falloff of antenna density out to ∼14 km from the center. With this design, it is relatively easy to identify multiple viable build sites on the lunar far side. The science case for FarView emphasizes the unique capabilities to probe the unexplored Cosmic Dark Ages – identified by the 2020 Astrophysics Decadal Survey as the discovery area for cosmology. FarView will deliver power spectra and tomographic maps tracing the evolution of the Universe from before the birth of the first stars to the beginning of Cosmic Dawn, and potentially provide unique insights into dark matter, early dark energy, neutrino masses, and the physics of inflation. What makes FarView feasible and affordable in the timeframe of the 2030s is that it is manufactured in-situ, utilizing space industrial technologies. This in-situ manufacturing architecture utilizes Earth-built equipment that is transported to the lunar surface to extract metals from the regolith and will use those metals to manufacture most of the array components: dipole antennas, power lines, and silicon solar cell power systems. This approach also enables a long functional lifetime, by permitting servicing and repair of the observatory. The full 100,000 dipole FarView observatory will take 4–8 years to build, depending on the realized performance of the manufacturing elements and the lunar delivery scenario.

Radio Science Experiments during a Cruise Phase to Uranus

The exploration of Uranus, a key archetype for ice giant planets and a gateway to understanding distant exoplanets, is acquiring increasing interest in recent years, especially after the Uranus Orbiter and Probe (UOP) mission has been prioritized in the Planetary Science Decadal Survey 2023–2032. This paper presents the results of numerical simulations aimed at providing experimental constraints on the parameterized post-Newtonian (PPN) parameter γ, a measure of space–time curvature in general relativity (GR), during the cruise phase of a spacecraft travelling to Uranus. Leveraging advanced radio tracking systems akin to those aboard the JUICE and BepiColombo missions, we explore the potential of solar conjunction experiments (SCEs) to refine current measurements of γ by exploiting the spacecraft’s long journey in the outer Solar System. We discuss the anticipated enhancements over previous estimates, underscoring the prospect of detecting violations of GR. Our simulations predict that by using an advanced radio tracking system, it is possible to obtain an improvement in the estimation of γ up to more than an order of magnitude with respect to the latest measurement performed by the Cassini–Huygens mission in 2002, contingent on the calibration capabilities against solar plasma noise. The results reveal that a number of SCEs during the mission can substantially strengthen the validation of GR. In tandem with fundamental physics tests, the use of radio links during SCEs presents a valuable opportunity to dissect the solar corona’s plasma dynamics, contributing to solar physics and space weather forecasting. This paper also enumerates methodologies to analyze electron density, localize plasma features, and deduce solar wind velocity, enriching the scientific yield of the experiments beyond the primary objective of testing GR during the cruise phase of a mission to Uranus.

A Decadal Survey Without Analogs: Earth Observation Needs for a Warming World

AbstractSince 2007, the National Academy for Sciences Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) has recommended Earth Science research and investment priorities every 10 years. The Decadal Survey balances the continuation of essential climate variable time series against unmet measurement needs and new Earth Observations made possible by technological breakthroughs. The next survey (2027–2028, DS28) will be framed by a rapidly changing world, and it will be critical to anticipate the observational needs of the 2030s–2040s, a world increasingly dominated by climate extremes and a rapidly changing Earth system. Here, we highlight some of the changes that factor into a framework for the DS28.

Revisiting technology-assisted language learning affordances for language components: a decade survey

ABSTRACT Given the important technology-assisted language learning (TALL)-empowered affordances, a comprehensive understanding of how these TALL tools facilitate learning across different language components, e.g., phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, could not only present the panoramic scenery of the subject matter but also inform pedagogy for applied linguistics researchers and practitioners. Despite the increasing attention being paid to the affordances of a particular TALL platform, there is still a lack of more holistic research practice to the affordances for the five language components. To bridge the gap, this study aims to systematically and quantitively revisit the TALL-empowered affordances with respect to these language components. To this end, a total of valid 201 articles published from 2010 to 2023 were selected and coded based on the proposed inclusion/exclusion criteria. Results revealed that different TALL platforms (viz. computer, mobile, tablet, virtual reality, and robot) help improve students’ language learning performance and efficacy among the five language components. The implications of the study, in perfect tune with the distance language learning experiences in the post COVID-19 pandemic era, justify the need to take full advantage of the TALL affordances and accelerate the move toward a more technology-friendly field of study.