SpaceX Prepares Falcon 9 Launch of NASA's Pandora Satellite From California Base
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — SpaceX plans to launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA's Pandora satellite and other payloads in the Twilight rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Jan. 11, 2026, according to launch trackers. The mission targets a sun-synchronous orbit at approximately 13:09 UTC, officials said.
The launch marks the inaugural mission in NASA's Astrophysics Pioneers Program, with Pandora designed to study exoplanet atmospheres using a 0.45-meter telescope. The satellite will separate exoplanet signals from host star light and monitor variability in about 20 target stars through long-duration observations, according to NASA descriptions cited by Space Launch Now.
SpaceX organizes the Twilight mission as a dedicated rideshare, bundling small payloads alongside its frequent Starlink deployments. Launch trackers list the event following Starlink Group 6-96 on Thursday and 6-97 on Saturday prior to Jan. 11. The Falcon 9 Block 5 vehicle will lift off from the SLC-4E pad, with the booster expected to land at LZ-4, according to Next Spaceflight.
Pandora emerged from NASA's 2021 selection process for the Pioneers Program, which funds small satellites under $25 million for astrophysics research. The program enables rapid, low-cost science missions building on data from earlier telescopes like Kepler and GAIA, sources said. Pandora addresses stellar contamination in transit data, a barrier to understanding exoplanet habitability, according to mission summaries.
The sun-synchronous orbit provides stable lighting and thermal conditions suitable for astrophysics and Earth-observing tasks. This orbit type supports consistent observations for Pandora's exoplanet spectroscopy goals, which align with NASA's astrobiology objectives amid discoveries of over 5,000 exoplanets, trackers noted.
SpaceX's schedule reflects its dominance in orbital launches. The company contributed to a 2025 record for global launches, driven by Starlink missions, according to SpaceNews. Preceding launches included Starlink Group 6-88 on Jan. 4, 2026, as reported by Space Launch Now.
No delays or scrubs appeared in recent updates across sources, indicating a routine operation. The U.S. Space Force seeks additional launch providers for Vandenberg and Cape Canaveral pads to meet growing demand, according to a Jan. 4, 2026, announcement cited by SpaceNews. This development supports infrastructure for missions like Twilight.
"The Pandora small satellite was selected in 2021 as an inaugural mission in NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers Program," Space Launch Now stated in its mission summary. "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…"
Rideshare missions like Twilight lower costs for small payloads by sharing rocket capacity. SpaceX has conducted similar bundling between Starlink launches, enabling access for government and commercial clients, according to industry trackers.
NASA sponsors Pandora as part of efforts to advance exoplanet research post-James Webb Space Telescope successes. The satellite focuses on precise atmospheric characterization, contributing to broader knowledge of potential habitability in distant worlds, sources said.
Launch details remain consistent across trackers, with no contradictions on date, vehicle, or orbit. The exact manifest for "others" in the Twilight mission stayed unspecified in available reports, though Pandora serves as a highlighted payload.
SpaceX's high launch cadence underscores commercialization trends in space access. In 2025, SpaceX and China accounted for the majority of orbital attempts, setting a new record, SpaceNews reported. "SpaceX, China drive new record for orbital launches in 2025," the outlet stated.
Vandenberg Space Force Base hosts polar and sun-synchronous launches, including this mission. The site provides westward trajectories for SSO insertions, essential for Pandora's observational stability, according to launch data.
No weather forecasts or precise launch windows beyond the targeted time appeared in sources. Booster reuse details for this Falcon 9 flight went unmentioned, though SpaceX typically recovers and reflights components.
The mission fits into NASA's strategy for smallsat innovation, democratizing astrophysics research. Pioneers Program selections emphasize cost-effective approaches to key scientific questions, such as exoplanet atmospheres, program descriptions noted.
Twilight represents SpaceX's ongoing rideshare ecosystem, distinct from its Starlink focus. This launch adds to the proliferation of SSO missions for science and Earth observation, amid increasing Vandenberg activity, sources indicated.
Officials provided no updates on Pandora's mass, power specifications, or detailed instruments beyond the telescope. The satellite's design prioritizes long-term monitoring to resolve host star variability, enhancing data accuracy for exoplanet studies.
SpaceX did not issue immediate confirmations in reviewed sources, though trackers like Spaceflight Now aligned with the schedule. The launch proceeds as a low-key event with potential for high scientific impact, according to mission overviews.
