The Pandora SmallSat: Overview of the First Six Months in Orbit

Presenter Information

• Jessie Dotson, Ames Research CenterFollow
• Elisa Quintana, Goddard Space Flight CenterFollow
• Knicole Colón, Goddard Space Flight CenterFollow
• Thomas Barclay, Goddard Space Flight CenterFollow
• Christina Hedges, Goddard Space Flight CenterFollow
• Ben Hord, Goddard Space Flight CenterFollow
• Trevor Foote, Goddard Space Flight CenterFollow
• Jordan Karburn, Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryFollow
• Pete Supsinkas, Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryFollow
• Lance Simms, Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryFollow
• Joe Renaud, Goddard Space Flight CenterFollow
• Julie Moquin, Goddard Space Flight CenterFollow

Session

Year in Review

Location

Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Abstract

The Pandora SmallSat was selected as an inaugural NASA Astrophysics Pioneers mission. The Astrophysics Pioneers program is tasked with performing compelling astrophysics science at lower cost while simultaneously providing space mission experience to early career researchers and engineers. The science goal of Pandora is to study transiting exoplanets and their host stars by collecting long duration, simultaneous visible photometry and near-infrared spectroscopy. This unique dataset will enable Pandora to disentangle the contributions from stellar activity which contaminate the exoplanet spectrum so we can search for water in exoplanet atmospheres.

The Pandora SmallSat successfully launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base on January 11, 2026. In this contribution, we provide an overview of the mission, its early performance, and an early take on lessons learned in operations for a Pioneers-class mission.

Document Type

Event