Falcon 9 Block 5 | Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission
January 11, 2026 at 01:44 PM UTC
MISSION
The Pandora small satellite was selected in 2021 as an inaugural mission in NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers Program. It includes a 0.45-meter telescope that will improve our understanding of exoplanet atmospheres by disentangling exoplanet signals from their host stars, as well as studying host star variability with long-duration observations of 20 unique planets through visible-light photometry and near-infrared spectroscopy. Also launching on this launch are 39 other ride-share payloads under the "Falcon 9 Twilight mission" manifested by Exolaunch, including satellites from Spire Global and Kepler Communications.
OUTCOME
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission completed its mission. The vehicle performed as expected and the payload reached its intended destination. SpaceX logged another successful flight in what has become a routine that was, not long ago, considered impossible to achieve at this pace.
The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).
VEHICLE
Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.
If this mission lands back at the Cape or Vandenberg, find out if you are close enough to hear the double sonic boom.
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