NASA’s Pandora satellite began science observations after its launch on 11 January 2026. During its one-year mission, it will observe at least 20 exoplanets and their host stars. The mission will examine these worlds in visible and near-infrared light, two kinds of light used to study distant objects. Researchers will look for atmospheric features, including clouds, hazes, and water.
By observing stars and planets together, Pandora helps scientists separate a star’s signal from a planet’s atmosphere. This comparison matters because the light from a host star can affect what scientists detect around its planet. The small satellite will observe each target about 10 times, for roughly 24 hours each time. Its data will support interpretation of observations from the James Webb Space Telescope and future observatories.