Shawn Domagal-Goldman

New Capabilities

As of May 2026: Overseeing current exoplanet missions

NASA confirmed its 6,000th exoplanet in September 2025, marking a milestone exactly 30 years after astronomers discovered the first planet orbiting a Sun-like star. The tally jumped from 5,000 to 6,000 in just three years—an acceleration driven by space telescopes and AI analysis. Over 8,000 additional candidates await confirmation.

Updated May 19