Pandora's Space Journey: NASA's latest Exoplanet Hunt

In a recent development, NASA has chosen SpaceX to launch a small satellite mission focused on exoplanet science. This mission, part of NASA's Astrophysics Pioneers program, involves a smallsat named Pandora. Pandora is equipped with a 45-centimeter telescope and optical and infrared detectors. Its primary goal is to study the atmospheres of 20 known exoplanets over a year. Pandora aims to determine if certain spectral signatures in exoplanets are due to hydrogen or water in their atmospheres, or if they are caused by stars' variability. This is crucial because stars are not uniform, and Pandora serves as a calibration tool to address this issue. The mission is designed to help scientists better understand the atmospheres of these distant worlds. Pandora is part of NASA's Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. This contract is intended for small missions that can tolerate higher risks. The spacecraft bus for Pandora was completed in January, keeping the mission on track for an anticipated launch in the fall. Pandora is an ESPA Grande-class spacecraft, which means it weighs up to 320 kilograms and will operate in a sun-synchronous orbit. This type of orbit is ideal for missions that require consistent sunlight exposure. The Pandora mission could potentially launch as part of SpaceX's Transporter series of rideshare missions, which send payloads to such orbits. However, neither NASA nor SpaceX has disclosed specific details about the launch date or the value of the task order to SpaceX. This lack of transparency is disappointing, as it limits public understanding of the mission's financial aspects. The Pandora mission is an exciting step forward in the study of exoplanets and their atmospheres. It highlights the growing role of small satellites in scientific research and the importance of understanding the variability of stars in exoplanet studies.