The Pandora SmallSat: A Low-Cost, High Impact Mission to Study Exoplanets and Their Host Stars

TL;DR

The Pandora SmallSat is a cost-effective NASA mission designed to study exoplanet atmospheres using multiband observations, leveraging existing capabilities and innovative management to achieve high scientific impact within a small form factor.

Contribution

This paper introduces the Pandora SmallSat mission concept, highlighting its low-cost design, innovative use of existing technology, and comprehensive simulation tools for exoplanet atmosphere studies.

Findings

Successful completion of Critical Design Review in October 2023

Development of high-fidelity simulation and modeling tools

Mission scheduled for launch in Fall 2025

Abstract

The Pandora SmallSat is a NASA flight project aimed at studying the atmospheres of exoplanets -- planets orbiting stars outside our Solar System. Pandora will provide the first dataset of simultaneous, multiband (visible and NIR), long-baseline observations of exoplanets and their host stars. Pandora is an ambitious project that will fly a 0.44 m telescope in a small form factor. To achieve the scientific goals, the mission requires a departure from the traditional cost-schedule paradigm of half-meter-class observatories. Pandora achieves this by leveraging existing capabilities that necessitate minimal engineering development, disruptive and agile management, trusted partnerships with vendors, and strong support from the lead institutions. The Pandora team has developed a suite of high-fidelity parameterized simulation and modeling tools to estimate the performance of both imaging channels. This has enabled a unique bottom-up approach to deriving trades and system requirements. Pandora is a partnership between NASA and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The project completed its Critical Design Review in October 2023 and is slated for launch into Sun-synchronous, low-Earth orbit in Fall 2025.