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Riled Up is a journal of science, the environment, exploration, new technology, and related commentary.  Contributors include scientists, explorers, engineers, and others who provide perspectives and context not typically offered in general news circulation.  For interested readers, additional resources are included.

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TESS, Exploring for Exoplanets
Hugh Bollinger

TESS, Exploring for Exoplanets

TESS mission antenna to explore for exoplanets (credit: YouTube)

 

 

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will explore portions of the Milky Way looking for planets orbiting other stars. TESS was launched by the Falcon-9 rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX to transport satellites and their Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Falcon-9 the first new rocket developed completely in the 21st century.

According to NASA, during its two-year star survey TESS will monitor 200,000+ stars for drops in brightness caused by planets as they "transit" in front of their star. It will scan a section of the Milky Way for stars that have planets orbiting them. Tess will specifically identify exoplanets ranging from Earth-sized to gas giants circling stars in a region 30-300 light years distant.

TESS was successfully launched and is now in orbit and returned the first exoplanets observed including one Earth-sized planet within its star's habitable zone ~100 light years away.

WHB

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