We are talking about a new space telescope, TESS, permission to run which with the help of rocket Falcon 9, the company Ilona Mask received from the National Directorate of the USA on Aeronautics and space research (NASA). In addition, as part of this launch is scheduled to be sent into orbit and other important goods that will be used for scientific space missions.
This news was reported by Space News, referencing previously submitted a draft Federal budget for the 2019 financial year. In that part of the document where we are talking about the future plans of NASA, says that “in January 2018, the company SpaceX has successfully passed the second certification category.” In other words, it gives her the right to be the operator sending into orbit of the apparatus of the TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) that will search for exoplanets using the transit method, observing the stars. Later this information was confirmed by the official representative of NASA, Cheryl Warner.
It should be added that the permission for carrying out missions given for each particular model of the missile on the basis of how successful were the previous runs, so the decision was expected. The statistics speak clearly in favor of SpaceX.
However, the process of obtaining a license to run has slowed down in 2017, which even caused some concern in the U.S. Congress. The delay even caused the postponement of the launch. What’s interesting about the transfer requested by the company SpaceX, which took additional time for thorough preparation of all necessary equipment in accordance with all standards and requirements of NASA. Earlier it was expected that TESS went to look for a new planet in March of this year, but in the end, the launch will take place on April 16, unless, of course, this will not prevent any other factors. By the way, telescope 12 Feb already delivered to the Kennedy Space center in Florida. The rocket is the Falcon 9, too, is already at launch complex.
And yet long endure run will not work. Start need exercise in the open window, which will run from March to June. Only in this case the telescope will be able to get out of the planned trajectory. It was reported earlier the head of the team of mit’s George Ricker – they will do research with the help of this device.
Estimated time of operation of the telescope TESS is at least two years. During this time the spacecraft will be able to explore more than 200 thousand of stars and to check the presence of exoplanets. It is expected that the telescope will be able to open several thousand new planets. Recall that the number of confirmed exoplanets at the moment, is more than 2500. All were discovered by the space telescope “Kepler”.
Obtaining permission to hold such an important mission – a very significant achievement for a private company. However, one of its main objectives – the creation of a manned spacecraft – remains unresolved. At the same time a solution to a similar problem busy competitors SpaceX. Comes on the heels of Boeing. Initially it was expected that SpaceX and Boeing will submit a missile ready for certification in 2017, but in the end, both companies have moved this event to the beginning of 2019.
SpaceX received permission to launch a very valuable cargo
Nikolai Khizhnyak