A space telescope in low Earth orbit, advancing astronomy since 1990.
A rocky exoplanet in the habitable zone, LHS 1140 b, has an atmosphere, with helium observed escaping into space. The discovery, using the WINERED spectrograph and Magellan telescope, confirms the first atmosphere on a rocky planet in another star’s habitable zone. JWST will continue to study its composition and stability.
NASA and partners are pursuing a high‑risk salvage to boost the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory into a higher, stable orbit. A Katalyst Space Technologies robot will capture Swift and lift it from 224 miles to about 373 miles, extending its life as solar activity threatens its destruction in October.
NASA has hired Katalyst Space Technologies to send Link, a three-armed drone, to grab the Swift Observatory and lift it to a higher orbit. The mission, launched from the Marshall Islands, aims to prevent Swift from burning up in Earth’s atmosphere and keep it scanning gamma-ray bursts and exploding stars.