MISSION NAME
TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite)
Status
Success
DATE
18 APR 2018
LAUNCH PROVIDER
SpaceX
Launch Pad
Space Launch Complex 40
Description
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is a NASA space telescope, designed to search for exoplanets using the transit method. TESS will identify planets ranging from Earth-sized to gas giants, orbiting a wide range of stellar types and orbital distances. The principal goal of the TESS mission is to detect small planets with bright host stars in the solar neighborhood, so that detailed characterizations of the planets and their atmospheres can be performed.
Falcon 9 Block 4
Rocket Description
The Full Thrust variants first stage includes all systems necessary for an operational re-use of stages while the second stage is operated as an expendable rocket stage.