This article is based on an official press release from RTX.

RTX’s Blue Canyon Technologies Powers NASA’s Pandora Mission to Study Exoplanet Atmospheres

On January 14, 2026, RTX announced that its small satellite subsidiary, Blue Canyon Technologies, successfully provided the spacecraft platform for NASA’s Pandora mission. The mission, which launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on January 11, 2026, is designed to study the atmospheres of planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets.

According to the company’s statement, the Pandora mission utilizes a Blue Canyon Saturn-200 minisatellite bus. This platform supports a specialized telescope capable of disentangling the light signals of stars from the planets orbiting them, a critical step in identifying the chemical composition of alien atmospheres. The mission represents a significant milestone for Blue Canyon Technologies, marking the 87th spacecraft launched in the company’s history.

Deciphering “Stellar Contamination”

While the mission is described in release materials as an “interstellar mission,” the satellite itself operates in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of approximately 600 kilometers. Its “interstellar” designation refers to its observational targets: a diverse selection of at least 20 exoplanets ranging from Earth-sized worlds to Jupiter-sized giants.

The primary scientific objective of Pandora is to solve the problem of “stellar contamination.” When astronomers observe an exoplanet transiting (passing in front of) its host star, variations in the star’s own light, such as starspots or flares, can mimic or obscure the atmospheric signals of the planet. By observing the star and the planet simultaneously over long durations, Pandora aims to separate these signals.

This data is expected to be crucial for determining the habitability of these worlds. Specifically, the mission will look for water vapor, hydrogen, and other gases, providing a clearer picture of which planets possess atmospheres suitable for further study by larger observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

The Saturn-200 Platform

Blue Canyon Technologies, an RTX business, manufactured the spacecraft bus at its facility in Colorado. The Saturn-200 “bus” serves as the infrastructure for the mission, providing power, propulsion, and the critical Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) systems required to keep the telescope locked onto distant targets.

According to RTX, this mission features the largest telescope payload ever integrated onto a Blue Canyon spacecraft. The precision required to stare at a single star for extended periods places high demands on the satellite’s stability.

“Our Saturn-class platform, equipped with advanced guidance, navigation, and control systems, will provide the precision pointing and stability critical to the success of this important mission.”

Chris Winslett, General Manager of Blue Canyon Technologies

In addition to manufacturing the bus, Blue Canyon managed the launch vehicle integration and is providing post-launch commissioning and mission operations support. The mission is led by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, with management by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).

AirPro News Analysis: The Shift to SmallSats

The deployment of Pandora highlights a continuing trend in astrophysics toward utilizing SmallSats for high-value science. Historically, missions requiring high-precision pointing and long-duration observation were the domain of large, flagship-class observatories. The ability to mount a significant telescope payload on a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) class bus like the Saturn-200 suggests that the cost barrier for specific types of astronomical research is lowering.

For RTX, this mission reinforces the strategic value of its acquisition of Blue Canyon Technologies. By leveraging standardized buses for government science missions, the company is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the civil space market, which increasingly favors “rideshare” launches and smaller, more frequent mission cadences over decade-long development cycles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Pandora satellite traveling to other stars?
No. The satellite orbits Earth. It is an observatory designed to look at other stars and their planets, but it does not travel to them.

How long will the mission last?
The primary science mission is scheduled to last for one year.

What launch vehicle was used?
Pandora launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 as part of a rideshare mission on January 11, 2026.

Sources

• RTX Press Release

This article is based on an official press release from NASA.

NASA Bolsters Supersonic Research Fleet with Retired Air Force F-15s

NASA has officially expanded its flight research capabilities by acquiring two retired F-15 Eagle aircraft from the U.S. Air Force. According to an official announcement from the agency, the jets arrived at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on December 22, 2025. These Military-Aircraft are slated to play a critical role in supporting the agency’s ongoing supersonic flight research, specifically the X-59 Quesst mission.

The transfer involves aircraft previously assigned to the Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing, based at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Rather than being sent to long-term storage, these high-performance jets have been redirected to support civil aviation research. NASA officials confirmed that the acquisition is part of a strategic effort to maintain a robust fleet capable of keeping pace with next-generation experimental aircraft.

The primary objective for these newly acquired assets is to support the X-59 Quesst (Quiet SuperSonic Technology) demonstrator. As the X-59 prepares for high-speed trials, the F-15s will serve as “chase planes,” providing essential visual verification and data collection during supersonic flight tests.

Operational Strategy: One to Fly, One for Parts

In a move designed to ensure long-term sustainability for the program, NASA revealed that the two aircraft will serve different functions. One of the F-15s will be modified to become an active research platform, joining the flight line at Armstrong. The second aircraft will be utilized as a “parts bird,” effectively serving as a donor airframe to provide spare components to keep the flying aircraft operational.

This logistical strategy addresses the challenge of maintaining older military airframes. By securing a dedicated source of spare parts immediately, NASA ensures that the active chase plane can remain flight-worthy throughout the duration of the X-59 program without facing supply chain delays common to legacy aircraft.

Role as a Chase Plane

The active F-15 will act as a chase plane, a vital component of flight testing. Chase planes fly in close formation with experimental aircraft to monitor safety, verify the operation of control surfaces, and capture high-resolution imagery. For the X-59 mission, the chase plane must match the experimental jet’s speed and altitude capabilities.

Troy Asher, Director for Flight Operations at NASA Armstrong, emphasized the importance of this Acquisitions in the official release:

“These two aircraft will enable successful data collection and chase plane capabilities for the X-59 through the life of the Low Boom Flight Demonstrator project.”

, Troy Asher, Director for Flight Operations at NASA Armstrong

Supporting the X-59 Quesst Mission

The timing of this acquisition aligns with critical milestones for the X-59 Quesst mission. The X-59 is designed to fly at supersonic speeds while generating a quiet “thump” rather than a disruptive sonic boom. Validating this technology requires a chase aircraft capable of sustained supersonic flight.

According to mission data, the X-59 completed its first flight on October 28, 2025, validating its subsonic airworthiness. The program is currently undergoing planned maintenance, with supersonic flight testing scheduled to begin in March 2026. The F-15, with a top speed exceeding Mach 2.5 (approximately 1,650 mph), is one of the few platforms capable of keeping up with the X-59 during these high-speed envelope expansion flights.

Technical Capabilities

NASA has a long history of utilizing the F-15 Eagle, dating back to the 1970s. The aircraft is favored for its robust airframe, twin-engine reliability, and high service ceiling of over 60,000 feet. The specific aircraft acquired are expected to be modified with research instrumentation, potentially including air-to-air schlieren photography equipment to visualize shockwaves.

“NASA has been flying F-15s since some of the earliest models came out… The F-15s allow NASA to operate in high-speed, high-altitude flight-testing environments.”

, Troy Asher, Director for Flight Operations at NASA Armstrong

AirPro News Analysis

Strategic Asset Management: We view this acquisition as a prime example of government efficiency through asset “upcycling.” The 173rd Fighter Wing is currently retiring its F-15 fleet as part of a broader Air Force transition. By transferring these assets to NASA rather than sending them to the “boneyard” (the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group in Arizona), the government extends the return on investment for these airframes.

Furthermore, the “parts bird” strategy suggests that NASA is preparing for an intensive flight schedule in 2026. As the X-59 moves toward community overflight testing to gather data for regulators, the reliability of the support fleet will be just as critical as the experimental aircraft itself. Without a reliable supersonic chase plane, the X-59 cannot safely push the boundaries of quiet supersonic travel.

Sources

• NASA: NASA Adds Two F-15 Aircraft to Support Supersonic Flight Research

This article is based on an official press release from Airbus.

Airbus UpNext Unveils SpaceRAN: The Push for “Flying Cell Towers”

Airbus UpNext, the innovation subsidiary of the European aerospace giant, has officially announced the launch of the SpaceRAN demonstrator project. This ambitious initiative aims to validate a standardized 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) by placing a “regenerative” payload in orbit, effectively turning a satellite into a flying base station rather than a simple relay.

According to the company’s announcement, the project is designed to pave the way for 6G connectivity and ensure European sovereignty in critical communications infrastructure. By moving away from traditional satellite architectures, Airbus aims to reduce latency and enable direct user-to-user connectivity from space.

From “Bent-Pipe” to Regenerative Payloads

The core innovation behind the SpaceRAN demonstrator is the shift in satellite architecture. Traditional telecommunications satellites often utilize a “bent-pipe” or transparent architecture, acting essentially as mirrors that reflect signals from a user on the ground to a ground station, which then routes the data.

In contrast, the SpaceRAN project utilizes a regenerative payload. As detailed in the press release, this allows the satellite to house a full 5G gNodeB (base station). The satellite receives, decodes, processes, and re-encodes signals directly in orbit. This onboard processing capability is expected to significantly reduce latency and allow for direct communication between users within the satellite’s footprint without routing every signal through a ground gateway.

Michael Augello, CEO of Airbus UpNext, emphasized the dual utility of this technology for both civil and defense sectors:

“For commercial aviation, this technology could boost operational efficiency and simplify interoperability, while for defense, it offers more resilient and secure communications.”

, Michael Augello, CEO of Airbus UpNext

A Diverse Industrial Consortium

To achieve this technical leap, Airbus has assembled a consortium of 11 partners spanning the entire value chain, from ground infrastructure to orbital hardware. The project emphasizes interoperability and open standards, specifically targeting the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standards that govern global mobile telecommunications.

Key partners and their contributions include:

• Aalyria: Providing the “Spacetime” orchestration platform to manage the dynamic mesh of satellites.
• AccelerComm: Supplying 5G Physical Layer (PHY) technology for high-performance signal processing.
• CesiumAstro: Delivering active phased array antenna technology for steerable beams.
• Radisys: Providing the 5G RAN software stack.
• Deutsche Telekom & Eutelsat: Representing mobile network and satellite operators to ensure commercial viability and integration with terrestrial networks.

Other partners contributing to the hardware, testing, and engineering efforts include ST Engineering iDirect, Keysight Technologies, Onati, Sener, and ITRI.

Timeline for Deployment

The project has outlined a clear roadmap for validation. According to Airbus, a ground-based demonstration simulating a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation is scheduled for 2027. This will be followed by the launch of the in-orbit demonstrator satellite later in 2027, with full in-orbit testing and validation expected to take place throughout 2028.

AirPro News Analysis

The SpaceRAN initiative represents a strategic pivot for the European aerospace sector. While competitors like SpaceX’s Starlink have established dominant proprietary networks (“walled gardens”), Airbus is betting on a standardized, open-architecture approach. By adhering to 3GPP standards, SpaceRAN aims to allow various vendors and operators to interact seamlessly, much like the terrestrial mobile market.

Furthermore, the focus on “regenerative” payloads signals a preparation for the computational demands of 6G. As future networks require “native AI” and edge computing, the ability to process data in orbit, rather than just relaying it, will be a critical differentiator. This project, supported by the French government’s “France 2030” plan, also underscores the geopolitical drive to secure autonomous connectivity for Europe.

Sources:
Airbus Press Release
Aalyria Press Release