Ben Hord
@benhord.bsky.social
Astrophysicist at NASA Goddard launching satellites and looking for planets around other stars. Formerly Columbia and University of Maryland
With a little over a month until launch, TIME wrote a piece on NASA’s Pandora SmallSat mission! Pandora will observe 20 exoplanets in search of water, clouds, and hazes - all important in the search for potential life.🧪🔭
Check out the article its cool video too: time.com/7335787/pand...
Check out the article its cool video too: time.com/7335787/pand...
This Space Telescope Will Search For Life On Distant Planets
The Pandora Space Telescope will study 20 promising worlds that could host life
time.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:16 AM
With a little over a month until launch, TIME wrote a piece on NASA’s Pandora SmallSat mission! Pandora will observe 20 exoplanets in search of water, clouds, and hazes - all important in the search for potential life.🧪🔭
Check out the article its cool video too: time.com/7335787/pand...
Check out the article its cool video too: time.com/7335787/pand...
NASA’s Pandora SmallSat officially has a launch vehicle! It’ll be hitching a ride on a SpaceX rocket later this Fall. Now the work of scheduling observations of exoplanets and their host stars can begin in earnest! 🪐🔭🧪
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
NASA Awards Launch Service Task Order for Pandora Mission - NASA
NASA has selected SpaceX of Starbase, Texas, to provide the launch service for the agency’s Pandora mission, which will study at least 20 known exoplanets and
www.nasa.gov
February 12, 2025 at 5:39 PM
NASA’s Pandora SmallSat officially has a launch vehicle! It’ll be hitching a ride on a SpaceX rocket later this Fall. Now the work of scheduling observations of exoplanets and their host stars can begin in earnest! 🪐🔭🧪
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
www.nasa.gov/news-release...
Since Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, does that mean we get six more weeks of federal funding?
February 2, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Since Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, does that mean we get six more weeks of federal funding?
Want to learn more about exoplanets, their atmospheres, and NASA’s Pandora mission to investigate them?
Check out this interview I did with @fcain.universetoday.com of Universe Today discussing just that! I promise it’s out of this world🔭🪐🧪: youtu.be/96Ee8Z-sbSU?...
Check out this interview I did with @fcain.universetoday.com of Universe Today discussing just that! I promise it’s out of this world🔭🪐🧪: youtu.be/96Ee8Z-sbSU?...
Pandora The Alien Atmosphere Inspector
YouTube video by Fraser Cain
youtu.be
January 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Want to learn more about exoplanets, their atmospheres, and NASA’s Pandora mission to investigate them?
Check out this interview I did with @fcain.universetoday.com of Universe Today discussing just that! I promise it’s out of this world🔭🪐🧪: youtu.be/96Ee8Z-sbSU?...
Check out this interview I did with @fcain.universetoday.com of Universe Today discussing just that! I promise it’s out of this world🔭🪐🧪: youtu.be/96Ee8Z-sbSU?...
Highkey insane time to be working in the federal government rn. Do I have to show up in person? Will I still get paid? Do I still have to show up in person if I’m not paid? Unspeakable questions with unknowable answers
January 28, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Highkey insane time to be working in the federal government rn. Do I have to show up in person? Will I still get paid? Do I still have to show up in person if I’m not paid? Unspeakable questions with unknowable answers
Reposted by Ben Hord
I think some people hear “grants” and think that without them, scientists and government workers just have less stuff to play with at work. But grants fund salaries for students, academics, researchers, and people who work in all areas of public service.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
White House pauses all federal grants, sparking confusion
The Trump administration has put a hold on all federal financial grants and loans, affecting tens of billions of dollars in payments.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 28, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I think some people hear “grants” and think that without them, scientists and government workers just have less stuff to play with at work. But grants fund salaries for students, academics, researchers, and people who work in all areas of public service.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
“Pausing” grants means people don’t eat.
NASA’s Pandora SmallSat Mission is on track for its launch readiness this fall! Pandora will observe 20+ exoplanets🪐 and their host stars🌟 to precisely measure water and clouds/hazes in the planets’ atmospheres. 🔭
Check out the press release (and video!) here: science.nasa.gov/directorates...
Check out the press release (and video!) here: science.nasa.gov/directorates...
NASA’s Pandora Mission One Step Closer To Probing Alien Atmospheres - NASA Science
Pandora, NASA’s newest exoplanet mission, is one step closer to launch with the completion of the spacecraft bus, which provides the structure, power, and
science.nasa.gov
January 23, 2025 at 5:39 AM
NASA’s Pandora SmallSat Mission is on track for its launch readiness this fall! Pandora will observe 20+ exoplanets🪐 and their host stars🌟 to precisely measure water and clouds/hazes in the planets’ atmospheres. 🔭
Check out the press release (and video!) here: science.nasa.gov/directorates...
Check out the press release (and video!) here: science.nasa.gov/directorates...
Idk but encouraging all NASA employees to rat on their colleagues engaging in secret DEIA activities through a dedicated enforcement resource seems like a big goose step in the wrong direction 🤔
January 22, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Idk but encouraging all NASA employees to rat on their colleagues engaging in secret DEIA activities through a dedicated enforcement resource seems like a big goose step in the wrong direction 🤔
Tune in live at 10:15am ET today as I give a press briefing about NASA’s upcoming Pandora SmallSat mission which will observe exoplanet atmospheres and their host stars. I promise that it’ll be out of this world! 🔭
youtube.com/@aaspressoff...
youtube.com/@aaspressoff...
AAS Press Office
The YouTube channel of the American Astronomical Society's Press Office, managed by AAS Press Officer Dr. Susanna Kohler.
youtube.com
January 16, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Tune in live at 10:15am ET today as I give a press briefing about NASA’s upcoming Pandora SmallSat mission which will observe exoplanet atmospheres and their host stars. I promise that it’ll be out of this world! 🔭
youtube.com/@aaspressoff...
youtube.com/@aaspressoff...