NASA’s Pandora Mission Takes on Exoplanet Atmospheres

Jason Rowe is a co-investigator on the Pandora mission. (Credit: Krystel V. Morin)

When NASA’s Pandora mission lifted off early this year on January 11th, it carried with it more than just cutting-edge technology. It carried the expertise of Canadian astronomer Prof. Jason Rowe, Canada Research Chair in Exoplanet Astrophysics, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Bishop’s University and IREx member. As a co-investigator on Pandora’s science team, Rowe is helping steer this innovative space observatory toward a clearer understanding of exoplanets orbiting distant stars and what their atmospheres can reveal about the potential for life beyond Earth.

Pandora itself is a compact, microwave-oven-sized space telescope designed for ambitious science on a streamlined budget. Unlike larger orbiters, it observes stars with two “eyes” (simultaneously in visible and near-infrared light) to untangle the subtle signals of planetary atmospheres from the contaminating “noise” created by the stars they orbit. This dual-wavelength approach is crucial because stellar surface activity (like bright patches or dark spots) can mimic or mask the faint signatures scientists are looking for, such as traces of water vapor or other molecules that could hint at habitability. IREx members have already faced these challenges while studying exoplanets like HAT-P-18 b and the TRAPPIST-1 planets.

Rowe’s contributions on Pandora draw directly from decades of experience in exoplanet discovery and characterisation. As Canada Research Chair, he and his team focus on how planets form and evolve, and how we can interpret the complex light patterns that ripple across space from alien worlds. On Pandora, Rowe helps lead the analysis and interpretation of data from dozens of exoplanet transits, moments when a planet crosses in front of its host star, slightly dimming its light. By discerning which features in that light come from the star versus the planet, Rowe’s work strengthens the scientific confidence in every atmospheric detection the mission makes.

One of the mission’s clever engineering choices connects Pandora to NASA’s flagship space science efforts. The spacecraft’s near-infrared detector began life as a spare unit originally produced for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the powerhouse observatory that has revolutionised how we see exoplanet atmospheres and the wider universe. Using this proven JWST-class sensor on a smaller platform lets Pandora contribute high-quality infrared observations while complementing the high-demand schedule of larger telescopes. This synergy amplifies the scientific return and deepens connections between space missions of all scales.

This view of the fully integrated Pandora spacecraft was taken May 19, 2025, following the mission’s successful environmental test campaign at Blue Canyon Technologies in Lafayette, Colorado.
(Credit: NASA/BCT)

Pandora’s early commissioning phase shows a healthy spacecraft ready to tackle its science goals. Over the next year, it will observe roughly 20 known exoplanets, capturing their light curves and informing models of atmospheric composition, cloud cover, and temperature. Insights from this mission will help astronomers prioritize targets for future observatories and refine their understanding of how atmospheres evolve on worlds very different from our own.

Pandora’s prime mission is expected to last about one year in sun-synchronous low Earth orbit, during which it will conduct repeated, long-duration observations of a targeted sample of known exoplanet systems. As part of NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers program, the mission also serves as a demonstration of how focused, lower-cost satellites can address specific scientific bottlenecks — in this case, stellar variability that complicates atmospheric measurements. By improving our understanding of host stars and refining planetary signals, Pandora helps maximise the efficiency of larger observatories such as JWST and future atmospheric characterization missions. If performance in orbit remains strong, mission extensions could further expand its target list and scientific impact.

For more information

• NASA page on Pandora
• Bishop’s University press release