SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday as part of a mission dubbed “Twilight,” placing around 40 payloads into a sun-synchronous orbit.
Among the payloads was “Pandora,” a scientific satellite operated by NASA and dedicated to the study of exoplanets beyond our solar system.
The mission successfully deployed all payloads approximately 90 minutes after liftoff. Pandora weighs about 325 kilograms and is scheduled to study at least 20 exoplanets over the course of one year.
The spacecraft is equipped with a 45-centimeter telescope and will observe planets as they pass in front of their host stars.
This observational approach, known as the “transit method,” is the most widely used technique for detecting exoplanets and has contributed to the discovery of more than 6,000 planets to date.
The method also allows scientists to study planetary atmospheres by analyzing how starlight is absorbed at different wavelengths as it passes through them.
Pandora aims to overcome the complexities caused by stellar activity by observing visible light and infrared radiation simultaneously.
This dual approach helps scientists separate the star’s spectrum from that of the planet, with a particular focus on planets that may have atmospheres rich in water or hydrogen.
The mission also included other satellites, such as 10 spacecraft from Kepler Communications’ “Æther” network and two advanced radar-based Earth observation satellites from Capella Space.
Meanwhile, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket successfully returned to Vandenberg Space Force Base about 8.5 minutes after launch, marking its fifth successful flight and recovery.
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