Nasa Mission

• NASA's TESS satellite, launched in 2018 to detect exoplanets via the transit method (monitoring dips in stellar brightness), has accidentally discovered a distant world using an entirely different detection technique. • While the mission was specifically designed to find planets passing in front of stars, scientists realized the telescope was simultaneously collecting evidence for planets through an unexpected method. • This discovery is significant because it demonstrates that TESS can provide valuable astronomical data beyond its primary operational objective, expanding the scope of its scientific utility.

• NASA has launched a rescue mission to save the Swift telescope, which is rapidly losing altitude and falling toward Earth. • The telescope, originally launched in 2004, is experiencing an accelerated orbital decay caused by recent intense solar storms. • This mission is critical because Swift provides essential data on gamma-ray bursts and other high-energy cosmic events.

• NASA has launched the LINK spacecraft to rendezvous with the aging Swift observatory to prevent it from burning up in Earth's atmosphere. • The mission aims to boost the telescope into a higher orbit, extending its operational life and avoiding atmospheric reentry. • This operation marks the final flight of the historic Pegasus rocket, signaling the end of an era for the launch vehicle.

• NASA has awarded nearly $600 million to three companies to execute four robotic lunar lander missions aimed at supporting the agency's long-term lunar base ambitions. • As part of the Moon Base update, NASA is studying the deployment of the PROMISE rover, an engineering model based on the Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rovers. • The PROMISE rover is designed for observation, mapping, and in-situ exploration of the lunar surface.

• Northrop Grumman is scheduled to launch a rescue mission on June 30 to save NASA's Swift space telescope. • The mission will utilize a unique deployment method, launching a rocket from an airplane to boost the telescope's altitude. • This intervention is critical to prevent the Swift telescope from falling out of orbit and burning up upon reentry into Earth's atmosphere.

• NASA is preparing an unprecedented rescue mission to extend the operational life of the aging Swift observatory. • The mission aims to support the detection of cosmic explosions and transients, complementing new facilities like the Argus Array currently under development in Texas. • This effort is critical because while new detectors can identify millions of potential transients nightly, specialized observatories like Swift are needed to analyze these events.

• NASA is investing $30 million in the "Swift Boost" mission, scheduled to launch on June 27, to rescue the aging Swift observatory. • The nearly 22-year-old telescope is currently being dragged toward Earth's atmosphere, risking a premature reentry and destruction. • This first-of-its-kind rescue operation is critical to preserving the observatory's ability to monitor cosmic events from space.