User:LizArchive/SP-42

SP-42 is an American aerospace manufacturer and scientific research organisation headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was founded in 1986 by Thom K Henson.

History
SP-42 was founded in 1986 under NSI Incorporated. SP-42 began operations by developing the Kilo 1 rocket in 1987.

SP-42's first satellite was launched in August 1986. The satellite, known as the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), was designed to last four years and is in an elliptical orbit in relationship to the Earth and Moon.

In December 1987, SP-42 finalised its first observatory. Known as the Wide Angle Search for Variable Stars (WASVS'86). WASVS'86 is based in the desert of southwestern Idaho.

Planetary Research Programme
In 1987, SP-42 launched the Planetary Research Programme (PRP), with the goal of studying all seven other planets within the Solar System. The announcement in late December 1987 was followed by a launch of Atlas-1 (Mars) and Atlas-2 (Venus) within close succession of one another.

List of Missions
Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS, 1986-1991) - TESS is a satellite that observes stars for dips in brightness caused by planetary transits. It is expected to last from 1986 to 1991.

Wide Angle Search for Variable Stars (WASVS'86, 1986-Present) - WASVS'86 is an 8-lens observatory located in southwestern Idaho that plots the brightness of stars to create light curves. WASVS'86 is expected to primarily focus on stellar observations until sometime between 1992 and 1994, when many resources will be diverted to analysing such light curves.

Planetary Research Programme
The Planetary Research Programme (PRP) is a large-scale Solar System project launched in December 1987. PRP is currently in the Atlas phase.