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Pandora

active
Science ExplorationLEOCOSPAR 2026-004AJLaunched 1/11/2026
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
Twilight
Launch Vehicle
Falcon 9 FT5
Launch Date
1/11/2026
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
LEO
Altitude
604 km
Inclination
97.8 deg
Dry Mass
300 kg
Total Mass
300 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Science Exploration
Payload Category
AST
Payload Class
C
Organizations
Operator
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Manufacturer
Blue Canyon Technologies
Registry
COSPAR ID
2026-004AJ
Track
Mentions
56
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
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NASA's Pandora satellite is intended for studying exoplanet atmospheres.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Jan 11, 2026RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: Glowing clouds from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch earlier for the "Twilight" rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. It’s carrying satellites, including NASA's Pandora, for studying exoplanet atmospheres. So cool! (1-11-2026) #rocketLaunch #SpaceX #SanJose #BayArea
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Pandora is set to launch on January 11, 2026.

PlanValue 4.0Jan 11, 2026RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: 🚀It's launch day for Pandora! Pandora will examine at least 20 planets outside our solar system along with their host stars, determining if the planet’s atmosphere contains hazes, clouds, or water. The 57 minute launch window opens at 5:19 am PST (8:19 am EST) from CA!

NASA’s Pandora exoplanet mission will deploy from the Falcon 9 payload adapter.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Jan 11, 2026RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: NASA’s Pandora exoplanet mission deploys from the Falcon 9 payload adapter.

Pandora will examine at least 20 planets outside our solar system along with their host stars.

PlanValue 2.8Jan 11, 2026RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: 🚀It's launch day for Pandora! Pandora will examine at least 20 planets outside our solar system along with their host stars, determining if the planet’s atmosphere contains hazes, clouds, or water. The 57 minute launch window opens at 5:19 am PST (8:19 am EST) from CA!

NASA's Pandora satellite is part of a nighttime RTLS launch on January 11, 2026.

PlanValue 4.0Jan 11, 2026RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: Twilight streaks to space in a beautiful nighttime RTLS carrying the @NASA Pandora, SPARCS and BlackCAT satellites, among other rideshare payloads

The 'Twilight' rideshare mission is carrying satellites, including NASA's Pandora.

CapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Jan 11, 2026RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: Glowing clouds from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch earlier for the "Twilight" rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. It’s carrying satellites, including NASA's Pandora, for studying exoplanet atmospheres. So cool! (1-11-2026) #rocketLaunch #SpaceX #SanJose #BayArea

Pandora will begin studying planets and their respective host stars beyond our solar system.

PlanValue 2.0Jan 11, 2026RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: Successful separation! NASA’s Pandora space telescope satellite is in sun-synchronous orbit after deploying from SpaceX’s second stage. Pandora will soon begin studying planets and their respective host stars beyond our solar system.

Pandora deployed from SpaceX's second stage.

GeneralValue 3.8Jan 11, 2026RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: Successful separation! NASA’s Pandora space telescope satellite is in sun-synchronous orbit after deploying from SpaceX’s second stage. Pandora will soon begin studying planets and their respective host stars beyond our solar system.

Pandora will launch from California.

PlanValue 2.0Jan 11, 2026RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: 🚀It's launch day for Pandora! Pandora will examine at least 20 planets outside our solar system along with their host stars, determining if the planet’s atmosphere contains hazes, clouds, or water. The 57 minute launch window opens at 5:19 am PST (8:19 am EST) from CA!

The Twilight rideshare mission includes two NASA-backed CubeSats and the Pandora spacecraft.

GeneralCapabilityValue 3.0Jan 10, 2026RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: RT by @Cosmic_Penguin: Sunday morning at 5:20 am PT (1320 UTC), @SpaceX is set to launch its Twilight rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. There are more than three dozen deployments planned, including two @NASA-backed CubeSats and its Pandora spacecraft. 📰:

Additional measurements from NASA's upcoming Pandora small satellite could reduce uncertainties tied to stellar variability.

CapabilityPlanValue 2.5Dec 10, 2025Methane hint on TRAPPIST 1e seen as likely stellar noise not proof of an atmosphere

Pandora is scheduled to launch on Falcon 9 no earlier than January 5.

PlanValue 4.0Nov 17, 2025R to @GewoonLukas_: Next year most of the science missions that are set to launch are small sats. These include Pandora (Falcon 9 NET Jan. 5), and Aspera (Electron NET Aug. 15). We could also see the launch of the Roman Telescope, which is set to launch between Oct. '26 and May '27 on Falcon Heavy.

NASA’s Pandora mission, projected to launch in 2024 or 2025, uses a Saturn-class microsat and was designed by NASA and the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to study the atmospheres of exoplanets.

PlanCapabilityGeneralValue 4.0Oct 9, 2023New head of smallsat supplier Blue Canyon sets sights on defense market growth

SiriusXM’s total group revenues rose 4% to $2,280,000,000 for the same reporting period, supported in part by growth in Pandora.

FinancialGrowthValue 4.0Nov 29, 2022SiriusXM orders pair of satellites to expand in Canada and Alaska

NASA announced concept studies for three new smallsat missions, including Pandora, StarBurst, and Aspera.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Feb 11, 2021Direct From SmallSat Symposium: Florence Tan, NASA’s Chief Technologist Small Spacecraft Coordination Group — A Market Brief, NASA’s Synopsis of SmallSat Science Missions

Pandora will study atmospheric features of exoplanets.

CapabilityValue 2.0Feb 11, 2021Direct From SmallSat Symposium: Florence Tan, NASA’s Chief Technologist Small Spacecraft Coordination Group — A Market Brief, NASA’s Synopsis of SmallSat Science Missions