Pandora Mission: NASA’s Pandora mission, launching in 2025, will study exoplanet atmospheres, focusing on clouds, hazes, and water as signs of habitability.
By Aniket Chakraborty
Feb 10, 2025
Key Objectives: Pandora aims to analyze the atmospheres of at least 20 exoplanets, including gas giants and super-Earths, to detect crucial atmospheric components.
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Complementing JWST: While JWST is oversubscribed, Pandora will support its findings by providing long-duration observations of exoplanet transits.
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Smaller Satellite: Unlike JWST, Pandora is a small satellite with a 17.7-inch telescope, designed for patience and detailed, long-term observations.
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Transit Method: Pandora uses the transit method, capturing light from stars as exoplanets pass in front, to study atmospheric compositions and potential habitability.
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Water Worlds: A key goal of Pandora is identifying water vapor, a critical component for habitability, in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets.
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Solving Light Interference: Pandora addresses a limitation of JWST by separating starlight interference, leading to more accurate atmospheric analysis of exoplanets.
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Extended Observations: Pandora’s long-duration studies involve at least 10 separate sessions of 24 hours each, observing exoplanetary atmospheres over full day-night cycles.
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Supporting Exoplanet Research: Pandora’s data will refine models of exoplanet atmospheres, improving understanding of planetary formation, evolution, and habitability.
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Pandora’s Legacy: Pandora’s mission will contribute to the ongoing search for life by providing valuable insights into exoplanetary climates and supporting future missions.