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Kepler/K2 & TESS

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In 2018, after nine years in deep space collecting data that revealed our night sky to be filled with billions of hidden planets – more planets even than stars – NASA’s Kepler space telescope ran out of fuel needed for further science operations. Ames is still home to many scientists who still use the legacy data collected by Kepler/K2 or who are experts in the data reduction and analysis of exoplanet time series photometry:

  • Jon Jenkins is a co-investigator involved in data processing.
  • Douglas Caldwell is a support scientist, and
  • Christina Hedges.

As such, their expertise is a valuable resource for the TESS mission.  

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Hubble Space Telescope

Ames scientists are both leading and collaborating on projects involving the characterization of sub-Neptunes, hot Jupiters, and brown dwarfs. Scientists involved in GO programs:

  • Christina Hedges,
  • Natasha Batalha,
  • Taylor J. Bell,
  • Ben Wei Peng Lew,
  • Sarah Moran,
  • Ehsan Gharib-Nezhad. 
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James Webb Space Telescope 

Ames scientists are both leading and collaborating on projects involving the characterization of exoplanets that range in size from Earth-sized to Jupiter, and beyond. Additionally, Ames scientists Tom Greene and Tom Roellig were both involved in the development of JWST instruments. Scientists involved in GO, GTO, and/or ERS programs:

  • Natasha Batalha,
  • Tom Roellig,
  • Ruslan Belikov,
  • Thomas Greene,
  • Timothy J. Lee,
  • Ehsan Gharib-Nezhad,
  • Taylor J. Bell,
  • Ben Wei Peng Lew,
  • Sarah Moran.
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Roman Space Telescope 

Ames scientists Ruslan Belikov, Dan Sirbu, Thomas Greene, and Natasha Batalha are involved in either defining the technology specifications or instrumentation for the Roman Space Telescope Coronograph.

  • Thomas Greene is on the Science Technology Definition Team.
  • Ruslan Belikov and Dan Sirbu contributed the mask to the coronagraphic instrument. 
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SOFIA 

Ames scientists Timothy J. Lee and Xinchuan Huang use SOFIA to study the infrared inventory of hot cores and to detect molecules in the interstellar medium. 

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Pandora 

NASA is studying a mission concept called Pandora, which could eventually help decode the atmospheric mysteries of distant worlds in our galaxy. One of four low-cost astrophysics missions selected for further concept development under NASA’s new Pioneers program, Pandora would study approximately 20 stars and exoplanets – planets outside of our solar system – to provide precise measurements of exoplanetary atmospheres. The following are co-investigators for this exciting new program:

  • Thomas Greene
  • Christina Hedges,
  • Jessie Dotson.
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Keck 

Keck is located on the Island of Hawai’i near the summit of Mauna Kea. It consists of two, 10-meter optical/infrared telescopes with a large suite of advanced instruments. These instruments have been critical to advancing our knowledge of exoplanetary worlds.

  • Thomas Greene serves as a NASA representative on the Keck Science Steering Committee.