What's Happening?
NASA has released an amendment to the Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2025, specifically concerning the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) General Investigator (GI) Program. This amendment, known as ROSES-2025 Amendment
33, provides the final text for the TESS GI and sets a new deadline for Phase-1 proposals, which is March 10, 2026. The TESS mission, which focuses on the acquisition and analysis of scientific data from exoplanet observations, will be entering its Cycle 9 phase. This phase will cover data collection from Sector 108 starting September 7, 2026, to Sector 121 ending September 19, 2027. The program also invites proposals that involve ground-based telescopes if they support the analysis of TESS data.
Why It's Important?
The TESS mission is crucial for advancing our understanding of exoplanets, particularly those that may be habitable. By setting a clear deadline for proposals, NASA ensures that researchers have ample time to prepare and submit their projects, which could lead to significant scientific discoveries. The data collected during Cycle 9 will contribute to the broader field of astrophysics and may provide insights into the formation and characteristics of distant worlds. This initiative supports the scientific community's efforts to explore the universe and potentially identify planets that could support life.
What's Next?
Researchers interested in participating in the TESS Cycle 9 are expected to prepare their proposals by the March 10, 2026 deadline. Following the submission, NASA will review the proposals and select those that align with the mission's objectives. Successful proposals will then proceed to the data acquisition phase, starting in September 2026. The outcomes of these projects could influence future space exploration missions and the search for extraterrestrial life.
