NASA’s Pandora Mission Begins Study of Exoplanets, Host Stars

NASA’s Pandora mission, the first satellite under the Astrophysics Pioneers program, has begun observing exoplanets and their host stars to determine atmospheric compositions, including the presence of hazes, clouds, and water. The mission aims to address uncertainties in how starlight affects measurements of exoplanet atmospheres, providing clearer data for future studies. Principal investigator Elisa Quintana emphasized the mission’s role in refining atmospheric analysis, particularly in systems where planets transit their stars.

Pandora’s design includes a novel all-aluminum telescope and the ability to observe targets simultaneously in visible and infrared light for extended periods. Unlike larger observatories, Pandora will conduct long-duration stares of up to 24 hours per target, enabling more detailed atmospheric sampling. The mission’s near-infrared detector, originally developed for the James Webb Space Telescope, enhances its observational capabilities.

The spacecraft’s instruments, including detectors jointly developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Corning Specialty Materials, will capture stellar brightness and planetary spectra during transits. Over its year-long primary mission, Pandora will observe at least 20 exoplanets 10 times each, providing data to disentangle stellar and planetary signals. Project scientist Knicole Colón noted that combining Pandora’s data with Webb’s observations will improve the accuracy of atmospheric measurements.

Pandora is led by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, with contributions from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Corning, Blue Canyon Technologies, and the University of Arizona. The mission’s data is publicly available through the NASA Exoplanet Archive, supporting broader scientific analysis. Additional universities contribute to the science team, expanding the mission’s research impact.