Graphic by LLNL and NASAs Goddard Space Flight.
Credit: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and NASAs Goddard Space Flight.
Pandora is part of NASAs Astrophysics Pioneers program, which focuses on little, inexpensive, yet enthusiastic objectives to open brand-new secrets from the universes. Co-investigators from NASA Ames and a number of universities will supply scientific contributions to the project.
Credit: An illustration of Pandora studying an exoplanets atmosphere as it passes in front of its host star using transit spectroscopy. LLNL will start developing the small satellite that was just recently approved to continue toward flight after an idea study. Graphic by LLNL and NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center.
Pandora will disentangle signals to understand which are from exoplanet atmospheres and which are from starspots, excellent phenomena that are similar to sunspots and can contaminate data. The celestial untangling will alleviate the impact and address of excellent inhomogeneities on exoplanet information obtained with NASAs James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which was launched on Christmas Day.
” Were thrilled to build a telescope that will complement big observatories like JWST,” stated Pete Supsinskas, LLNL project manager.
Over the next 21 months, Pandora will mature its mission idea and show that its half-meter telescope is prepared for flight. The mission is leveraging LLNLs experience and abilities in optics style, fabrication and little satellites..
This illustration (not to scale) portrays Pandoras orbital pattern in Sun-synchronous low-Earth orbit, situated around 435 to 497 miles (700 to 800 kilometers) above Earths surface, as it observes its targeted exoplanets and stars. This orbit allows Pandora to get numerous observations of exoplanets over extended periods and the Earthshine exemption zone assists prevent reflected light from Earth. Credit: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and NASAs Goddard Space Flight.
” This is a huge step because, while its a small satellite, Pandora will deliver impactful science for NASAs astrophysics program,” said Ben Bahney, LLNLs program leader for Space Science and Security. “And were doing it efficiently, under extraordinary budget plan constraints for mission-quality science.”.
Pandora belongs to NASAs Astrophysics Pioneers program, which focuses on small, low-cost, yet enthusiastic objectives to open brand-new tricks from the cosmos. The mission will be established under a $20 million expense cap. Incorporating LLNL Space Science and Security Programs aluminum telescope style with business items will help lower costs.
Pandora is led by Elisa Quintana, primary private investigator at GSFC, and Supsinskas at LLNL. Co-investigators from NASA Ames and several universities will supply scientific contributions to the project. It is anticipated to introduce in late 2024 or early 2025.
This illustration records an exoplanet as it will cross in front of– or transit– its star. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center
The Pandora mission, co-led by a nationwide laboratory and a NASA flight center, has passed an important action on its course to study stars and worlds outside our planetary system, or exoplanets.
After a successful principle study report and system requirements evaluate, NASA approved the mission to continue toward flight. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) are co-leading Pandora as part of NASAs new Astrophysics Pioneers program, with LLNL leading the task management and NASA GSFC leading the science..
The mission will study roughly 20 stars and exoplanets by analyzing starlight that travels through exoplanets atmospheres, utilizing a technique called transit spectroscopy.
