Pandora astrophysics pioneers SmallSat detector testing progress

The Pandora NASA Astrophysics Pioneers SmallSat mission employs a dual-channel observational approach, simultaneously utilizing visible photometry and infrared spectroscopy to assess stellar contamination of exoplanet transmission spectra. For the near-infrared spectroscopy Pandora will use a 2.5-micron cutoff Teledyne H2RG detector. The engineering design unit has undergone thermal-vacuum testing at Lawrence Livermore National Labs to characterize its performance under flight-like conditions. This paper provides an overview of testing conducted to date, shedding light on critical detector properties derived from subsequent analyses. Key parameters include read noise, gain, and saturation, offering insights into the detector’s capabilities and paving the way for enhanced data interpretation in the pursuit of unraveling the complexities within exoplanetary atmospheres.