The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will receive assistance from a small satellite called Monitoring Activity from Nearby Stars with UV Imaging and Spectroscopy (MANTIS). MANTIS, an $8.5 million cubesat selected by NASA, will work alongside the JWST to enhance the search for potentially habitable exoplanets. JWST focuses on analyzing the atmospheres of rocky planets that could support life, while MANTIS is designed to observe star activity, including flares. Expected to launch in 2026, MANTIS will make observations in the full range of ultraviolet light, including extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light, which is more energetic. It will study stars located several … Continue reading NASA Selects MANTIS to be James Webb Space Telescope’s Cosmic Companion