NASA is poised to launch the initial satellite of its innovative PREFIRE mission, aimed at measuring heat loss from Earth’s polar regions. The first of two research satellites, designed to fit into a shoebox, is scheduled for liftoff on Saturday. The launch will take place aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Rocket Lab’s launch complex in Mahia, New Zealand, with a launch window opening at 7:15 p.m. local time (3:15 a.m. ET).
PREFIRE mission: Overview
The Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment, or PREFIRE, is a groundbreaking climate science initiative. Its primary goal is to enhance our understanding of how water vapor, clouds, and other atmospheric components trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space. This mission is expected to provide critical data that will improve climate models and lead to more accurate predictions regarding the impacts of the climate crisis on sea levels, weather patterns, and the extent of snow and ice cover.
Earth receives a substantial amount of solar energy in tropical regions, which is then redistributed towards the poles by weather and ocean currents. At the poles, this heat radiates upward into space, predominantly in far-infrared wavelengths. These wavelengths have not been systematically measured before, and PREFIRE aims to fill this crucial gap in climate data.
Technological innovation: CubeSats with heat sensors
PREFIRE consists of two CubeSats equipped with advanced miniature heat sensors. These satellites will orbit in asynchronous near-polar trajectories, allowing them to pass over the same locations at different times, capturing data on short-term atmospheric phenomena. This approach will enable scientists to analyze how variations in cloud cover influence surface temperatures.
NASA has announced that the launch date for the second satellite will be revealed shortly after the successful deployment of the first. The tandem operation of these satellites will be pivotal in gathering high-frequency measurements needed for comprehensive climate analysis.
The PREFIRE mission represents a significant step forward in climate science, promising to deliver valuable insights into the Earth’s heat dynamics and contributing to our understanding of the ongoing climate crisis.