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Falcon 9 Block 5 | Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission

Falcon 9 Block 5 launched the Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission mission for SpaceX from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on Jan 11, 2026 (UTC).

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Launch pad

Space Launch Complex 4E · Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission

Launched Jan 11, 2026 10:44:50 PMSuccess

40 objects in orbit now

Flight direction

190° S

measured from the launched orbit · inclination 97.8°

Flight path

First-stage drop zone (rough estimate)

Drawn 400–700 km downrange along the flight direction. Official hazard areas are published as NOTAMs and navigational warnings.

🚀 Where to watch a launch: Vandenberg Space Force Base, California →

About the 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.

Mission description from Launch Library 2.

Objects from this launch still in orbit

Launch time (your time zone)
Sun, Jan 11 · 10:44:50 PM
Status
Success
Launch provider
SpaceX
Rocket
Falcon 9 Block 5
Mission type
Astrophysics
Target orbit
SSO
Launch pad
Space Launch Complex 4E · Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA