NASA's Pandora mission one step closer to probing alien atmospheres

NASA's Pandora spacecraft bus is complete, keeping the exoplanet mission on track for a fall launch. The small satellite will study at least 20 known exoplanets, focusing on their atmospheres and overcoming challenges in distinguishing planetary signals from star variations. Pandora will use a 45-centimeter telescope to observe each target 10 times for 24 hours, capturing visible and near-infrared data during planet transits. The mission aims to complement Webb telescope observations and improve understanding of potentially habitable worlds.