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We revisit the idea of R. Bracewell and R. Angelet al.,that exoplanets around nearby stars could be detected in the IR (6–17 μm) and their spectra analyzed, searching for CO₂, H₂O, O₃, CH₄, and NH₃spectral features. The presence, or absence, of CO₂would be the indication of a deep similarity, or difference, with the atmospheres of telluric planets in the Solar System. That of H₂O would indicate a habitable planet and O₃would reveal a large photosynthetic activity, indicating the presence of life based on carbon chemistry. As do these authors, we suggest an IR nulling interferometer pointing to the star and working as a coronograph. Our main contribution is to propose an observatory made of four to five 1-m class telescopes observing from 4–5 AU to avoid the solar zodiacal light (ZL) background at 10 μm instead of four 8-m telescopes observing from the vicinity of Earth. This allows the mission to be feasible in …