NASA’s PACE Satellite Launches to Study Climate Change and Ocean Ecosystems
In a groundbreaking mission to study climate change and ocean ecosystems, SpaceX successfully launched NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite early Thursday morning. This nearly $1 billion spacecraft aims to shed new light on the complex interplay between heat-trapping carbon, aerosols, and sea life on a global scale.
The PACE mission is set to revolutionize our understanding of the relationship between aerosols and clouds, as well as the global energy balance. According to Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth sciences division, this is one of the biggest sources of uncertainty in our ability to model climate change. She compares the impact of PACE on our understanding of the oceans to that of the James Webb Space Telescope on our understanding of the cosmos.
Oceans cover 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, yet they remain one of the least understood parts of our planet. PACE is expected to profoundly advance our knowledge of how the oceans work and how ocean life is interconnected with life on land. The mission will focus on understanding phytoplankton, tiny organisms that form the foundation of life in our oceans.
The launch of the PACE satellite was delayed by two days due to high winds at the launch site. However, on Thursday at 1:33 a.m. EST, the nine first-stage engines of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket ignited, illuminating the night sky over Cape Canaveral. The rocket arced away on a southerly trajectory over the Atlantic Ocean and successfully reached a 420-mile-high orbit around Earth’s poles.
This polar orbit allows the satellite to observe the entire planet as it rotates below, providing valuable data for Earth observation, weather forecasting, and reconnaissance purposes. It is worth noting that this is the first polar launch from the East Coast for the U.S. government since 1960, when a rocket accidently dropped debris on Cuba.
The PACE mission faced numerous challenges on its journey to the launch pad. The Trump administration made multiple attempts to cancel the project, but Congress intervened and ensured that funding was added back to NASA’s budget each time. Jeremy Werdell, the PACE project scientist, acknowledges the remarkable journey of the mission and credits the support from the science community, NASA, and the public for keeping the program on track.
The PACE satellite, weighing 3,748 pounds, was built at NASA’s Goddard Spaceflight Center in Maryland. It is equipped with three instruments, including a hyper-spectral color camera and two light-analyzing polarimeters. These instruments operate similarly to human eyes, detecting interactions of sunlight with the atmosphere, ocean, and land.
Contrary to its name, PACE is not solely focused on studying the ocean or atmosphere but aims to understand the complex interactions between these components and land. This holistic approach is crucial because one cannot fully comprehend one aspect without understanding the others. The mission is expected to provide high-precision data that will refine computer models and provide policymakers with more accurate information about ongoing trends and long-term threats.
One of the main goals of the PACE mission is to unravel the scientific mystery of how aerosols cycle through the ocean and atmosphere, affecting cloud formation and weather systems. Kate Calvin, NASA’s chief scientist and senior climate advisor, emphasizes that greenhouse gases and aerosols play a significant role in temperature regulation and long-term climate change. PACE will provide valuable information on these factors, helping scientists better understand the Earth’s climate system.
The PACE satellite, Falcon 9 rocket, and mission operations have cost NASA $948 million. After extensive tests and instrument calibration, science observations are set to begin in approximately two months. While the design life of the satellite is three years, project officials are optimistic that it will operate for a decade or more, significantly contributing to our understanding of climate change and ocean ecosystems.
In conclusion, the launch of NASA’s PACE satellite marks a significant milestone in our quest to understand climate change and ocean ecosystems. This mission will provide crucial data that will refine our models and inform policymakers about the ongoing trends and long-term threats to our planet. With its advanced instruments and holistic approach, PACE is poised to revolutionize our understanding of the complex interplay between aerosols, clouds, and ocean life. As we embark on this scientific journey, we can look forward to new insights and discoveries that will shape our understanding of the Earth’s climate system for years to come.