NASA Launches New PACE Satellite to Study Earth's Ocean, Atmosphere, and Climate

NASA has successfully launched its latest Earth-observing satellite, PACE, to delve into the complexities of our planet's oceans, air, and climate.

All About the PACE Mission of NASA

The PACE mission, which faced multiple cancellation attempts during the Trump administration, soared into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station earlier Thursday, February 8.

According to NASA, the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem, also known as PACE, is dedicated to advancing climate science and expanding our understanding of the intricate relationship between Earth's atmosphere and oceans.

The satellite is equipped with advanced technology, including a spectrometer and two polarimeters, which promise to revolutionize capabilities in studying clouds, aerosols, and phytoplankton in the ocean.

By scrutinizing these elements with unprecedented precision, PACE aims to unveil critical insights into climate change's impact on marine ecosystems and ocean health.

One of PACE's primary objectives is to observe changes in phytoplankton populations, manifesting as varying ocean surface colors. These microscopic organisms play a crucial role in marine ecosystems and interact closely with aerosols suspended in the atmosphere.

The data collected by PACE's instruments will enable scientists to measure aerosols' size, composition, and abundance, thereby enhancing our understanding of their interactions with clouds and their influence on ocean health.

SpaceX Launches PACE

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying PACE is following a southern polar trajectory, aiming to insert the satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit. Liftoff occurred precisely at 1:33 a.m. EST.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center spearheads the PACE mission, overseeing the spacecraft's design, fabrication, and instrument development. The agency's Launch Services Program (LSP) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center manages the launch service for the mission.

This launch marks LSP's first venture into polar orbit launches from Florida's Space Coast, a significant milestone for the agency since 1960. Previous polar orbit launches have been conducted from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, but SpaceX has undertaken such missions from Florida for other clients.

PACE's development has been a collaborative effort with a dedicated team working diligently to bring the mission to fruition. The Goddard Space Flight Center's Development Team will guide PACE through each phase of its mission development, ensuring the successful construction, testing, and operation of the spacecraft and its instruments.

The primary science instrument onboard PACE is the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), designed to measure ocean color across a broad spectrum. PACE will also feature two polarimeters, SPEXone and HARP2, that will provide complementary data on aerosols, clouds, and ocean polarization.

The synergy between these instruments is poised to propel significant advancements in aerosol-cloud-ocean research, promising a wealth of invaluable insights into Earth's complex systems.