What's Happening?
NASA has announced the ROSES-25 opportunity for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) General Investigator (GI) Program. This program is soliciting proposals for the acquisition and analysis
of new scientific data from the TESS mission during its Cycle 9, which spans from September 7, 2026, to September 19, 2027. The call for proposals also includes support for the analysis of data from ground-based telescopes if they directly aid in the interpretation of TESS data. The final text for the TESS GI has been released, and the Phase-1 proposal due date is set for March 10, 2026. Interested parties are encouraged to direct programmatic questions to John Wisniewski and Joshua Pepper, and technical inquiries to Tyler Pritchard, the TESS General Investigator Program Lead.
Why It's Important?
The TESS mission plays a crucial role in the search for exoplanets, contributing significantly to our understanding of planets beyond our solar system. By inviting proposals for data analysis, NASA is fostering collaboration and innovation within the scientific community, potentially leading to new discoveries and advancements in astrophysics. This initiative not only supports scientific research but also enhances the capabilities of ground-based telescopes, thereby broadening the scope of astronomical studies. The outcomes of these analyses could have far-reaching implications for space exploration and our understanding of the universe.
What's Next?
Following the submission deadline in March 2026, NASA will review the proposals and select those that align with the mission's objectives. Successful proposals will receive support for data acquisition and analysis, contributing to the broader goals of the TESS mission. The results from these studies are expected to be published in scientific journals, providing valuable insights into exoplanetary systems. Additionally, the collaboration between NASA and the scientific community will likely continue to evolve, with future opportunities for involvement in space missions.
