NASA selects SpaceX to launch Pandora mission for exoplanet study
Pandora is an ESPA Grande-class spacecraft, weighing up to 320 kg, and is designed to function in a sun-synchronous orbit.
NASA has awarded SpaceX the contract to launch its Pandora mission, which aims to analyse how stellar activity influences the study of exoplanet atmospheres. The mission will examine at least 20 exoplanets and their host stars, providing insights into planetary environments beyond our solar system.
The selection falls under NASAs Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract, which facilitates fixed-price awards over a five-year period, with a total potential value of $300m across multiple contracts.
Pandoras one-year primary mission will involve observing each exoplanet 10 times for 24-hour sessions during transitswhen a planet crosses in front of its star. The spacecraft is equipped with a 17-inch (45-centimeter) all-aluminum telescope, designed to simultaneously capture visible and near-infrared light from host stars while analyzing exoplanetary atmospheres. This approach will help scientists differentiate between stellar and planetary signals, complementing data from NASAs James Webb Space Telescope and upcoming missions like the Habitable Worlds Observatory.
The mission is a collaborative effort between NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Funded by NASAs Astrophysics Pioneers program, Pandora represents a cost-effective initiative to advance astrophysics research. NASAs Launch Services Programme, based at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, oversees the VADR contract.
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