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