NASA’s PACE Mission Set to Launch: A Billion-Dollar Study of Earth’s Oceans and Atmosphere
In an exciting development for the scientific community, NASA’s PACE mission is finally set to launch after surviving multiple attempts at cancellation during its development. This nearly billion-dollar mission aims to study the Earth’s oceans and atmosphere, providing crucial insights into our planet’s complex systems. The launch is scheduled for February 6th at 1:33 a.m. Eastern from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40, with a Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) spacecraft into sun-synchronous orbit.
PACE is equipped with three advanced instruments designed to study the ocean, clouds, and aerosols in the atmosphere. The primary instrument, the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), will provide valuable information on ocean color across various wavelengths. Accompanying OCI are the Hyper Angular Research Polarimeter (HARP2) and Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration (SPEXone), which will contribute data on atmospheric clouds and aerosols while supporting atmospheric correction of OCI data.
The significance of the PACE mission cannot be overstated. “PACE is going to so profoundly advance our understanding about how our oceans work and how they are related to the broader Earth system and the changing climate,” said Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth science division, during a briefing about the mission.
One of the key areas of focus for PACE is the study of phytoplankton on the ocean surface. Jeremy Werdell, PACE project scientist, highlighted the mission’s ability to differentiate among phytoplankton species. This breakthrough will enable scientists to identify harmful and beneficial phytoplankton species and track their movements. Such knowledge is crucial for understanding the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.
PACE will work in conjunction with other Earth science missions, such as the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) spacecraft. While SWOT provides insights into ocean movement and sea height, PACE will offer invaluable information about the organisms thriving in the surface oceans. “PACE is going to give us information on what’s living in those surface oceans,” explained Kate Calvin, NASA’s chief scientist and senior climate adviser.
Furthermore, PACE’s data will aid in tracking various aerosols present in the atmosphere, including sea spray, smoke, and desert dust. This information is vital for monitoring air quality, understanding the impact on human health, studying interactions between the atmosphere and ecosystems, and investigating cloud formation. “It’s so dynamic, space is the only way you can possibly do this,” emphasized Andy Sayer, PACE atmospheric scientist.
While PACE has a projected design life of three years, NASA anticipates that the mission will far exceed this timeframe. The spacecraft carries enough consumables, such as propellant, to operate for at least a decade. “We’re hoping for a nice long life for PACE,” said St. Germain optimistically.
Following the launch, PACE will undergo a commissioning period expected to last 60 days. Jeremy Werdell mentioned that “first light” data will be released after approximately 40 to 50 days. Importantly, all data collected by PACE will be made publicly available without any exclusivity period for the mission’s science team.
The journey leading up to the launch of PACE has been filled with challenges. The mission faced repeated attempts at cancellation by the Trump administration during its development. However, each time Congress rejected the proposed cuts and restored funding to the mission. “It has been a long, strange trip,” reflected Werdell during the briefing. The unwavering support from stakeholders who recognized the potential impact of PACE played a crucial role in ensuring its continuation. “One of the reasons we’re sitting here today is because there were many in our stakeholder community who understood the potential impact of PACE and supported us moving forward,” acknowledged St. Germain.
As the launch of NASA’s PACE mission approaches, scientists and researchers eagerly anticipate the wealth of knowledge it will bring. With its advanced instruments and comprehensive study of the Earth’s oceans and atmosphere, PACE promises to revolutionize our understanding of our planet’s intricate systems. The data collected will not only deepen our knowledge of the changing climate but also aid in monitoring air quality and preserving the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. As PACE embarks on its mission, the scientific community eagerly awaits the groundbreaking discoveries that lie ahead.