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NASA’s Climate Change Mission Launches on Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket
NASA’s latest endeavor in the realm of climate change research is set to take flight aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket. This mission, known as PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment), will play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of Earth’s changing climate.
Launch Details
Rocket Lab recently announced plans for two consecutive launches from its Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand. These launches will propel the PREFIRE mission into space, with each launch carrying a cubesat destined for near-polar orbits between 292 and 403 miles above Earth’s surface.
The first launch is scheduled for May 22, followed by a second launch, “PREFIRE and ICE,” within three weeks. These missions mark Rocket Lab’s sixth and seventh launches of the year and the 48th and 49th Electron launches overall.
In the words of Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s CEO and founder, “It’s these types of missions where Electron really thrives as the leading launch provider for dedicated small satellite missions.”
The PREFIRE Mission
The PREFIRE mission will span a 10-month period, focusing on the critical task of measuring Earth’s heat loss from its polar regions. By collecting data that can only be obtained from space, the PREFIRE satellites will provide valuable insights into the impact of climate change on our planet.
With sensors that are more advanced than those used by previous spacecraft, these satellites will gather detailed information on polar heat emissions in the far infrared spectrum. This data will enable scientists to better understand the mechanisms driving heat loss in the Arctic region, which has been warming at a rate more than 2.5 times faster than the rest of the planet.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab emphasizes that roughly 60% of the energy released into space from the Arctic remains unaccounted for. The PREFIRE mission aims to fill this knowledge gap, shedding light on the specific factors contributing to heat loss in polar environments.
Significance of the Mission
By providing precise measurements of Earth’s polar heat loss, the PREFIRE mission will empower climate scientists to refine their models and forecasts related to global warming. This data will support efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and develop strategies for a more sustainable future.
As Peter Beck aptly puts it, “Helping climate scientists better understand climate change means they need precisely located measurements of Earth’s polar heat loss, which NASA’s PREFIRE mission is setting out to achieve.”
Notably, this mission is not Rocket Lab’s first collaboration with NASA on scientific endeavors. The Electron rocket has been instrumental in previous missions such as CAPSTONE, TROPICS, the NASA Starling mission, and the upcoming ACS3 rideshare mission.
With each successful launch, Rocket Lab continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing space exploration and research for the betterment of our planet and society.
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