NASA's new Pandora mission, set to launch in fall 2025, will focus on studying the atmospheres of at least 20 exoplanets, searching for signs of habitability such as water, clouds, and haze. The mission will utilize a unique strategy of prolonged observation, overcoming limitations faced by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in detecting water signatures in exoplanet atmospheres.
Pandora, a small satellite equipped with a 17.7-inch Cassegrain telescope, will conduct in-depth studies of exoplanets by analyzing the light passing through their atmospheres during transits. This light reveals the composition of the atmosphere, providing clues about its potential to support life. While JWST has been instrumental in exoplanet research, its ability to detect water is hindered by interference from the host star's light.
Pandora's mission will address this challenge by observing the host star's brightness simultaneously with the near-infrared light from the star and its transiting planet. This will allow scientists to separate the signals from the star and the planet, providing more accurate data on the presence of water and other atmospheric components. Pandora's extended observation periods, lasting up to 24 hours per planet, will enable a deeper understanding of exoplanet atmospheres, contributing to the ongoing search for habitable worlds beyond our solar system.