NASA launches satellite into orbit in search of life

NASA has launched its new satellite into orbit on a two year mission to scour star systems for potential signs of life.

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite – known more colloquially as TESS, has four specialised cameras on board enabling it to view around 20 million stars.

Scientists leading the mission say they don’t know what they might discover – and they’re hoping for the “completely unexpected”. Our science editor Tom Clarke reports.