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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and NASA are set to launch the Pandora Mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in January, aimed at identifying exoplanets with life-essential compounds. Over 13 months, the mission will analyze the atmospheres of 20 planets during eclipses, seeking biosignatures like oxygen and methane, and is part of the Pioneers Program to gather data from planets up to 100 light years away. The satellite, launching on a SpaceX rocket, is designed to overcome solar contamination issues and is projected to cost significantly less than previous NASA missions.