25th May 2024 marks a special day in the earth system and study as NASA Launches Small Climate Satellite 🛰️. The mission is named PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) and aims to study the effects of heat emissions on Earth’s poles. The mission will enlighten us on the intricate interplay between the two far-off regions of the world and climate change.
NASA’s PREFIRE (Polar Brilliant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Trial) mission comprises two shoebox-size block satellites or CubeSats, that will gauge how much heath Earth transmits into space from two of the coldest and most far-off regions on Earth🌏. Information from the PREFIRE mission will assist researchers with better forecasts of how Earth’s ice, oceans, and weather conditions will change in a warming world. In this blog, we will share information on the basic aim of this mission. Continue reading.
What is the PREFIRE Mission?
A joint adventure of NASA and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the PREFIRE mission is focused on collecting and studying data about the Earth’s heat🔥absorption and release, especially in Arctic and Antarctic regions. The main aim of these shoebox-sized satellites is to measure the far-infrared radiation which will help in improving our knowledge and prediction power of how Earth’s climate will change.
This information is valuable for everyone from scientists studying melting ice 🧊 and rising seas to farmers planning for unpredictable weather. To measure the heat radiating from Earth’s poles, each PREFIRE CubeSat carries a special tool called a Thermal Infrared Spectrometer (TIRS). This instrument uses unique mirrors and detectors to break down and measure infrared light, including the kind our eyes can’t see.
Understanding the Basic Aim of NASA’s PREFIRE Mission
NASA’s PREFIRE has successfully lifted off atop Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from the launch complex i.e. in Mahia, New Zealand. The basic aim of the mission is to establish, how much energy our earth absorbs and releases along with the impact of polar regions on our planet. The data collected through this mission will be beneficial for scientists to study the earth system and predict different changes in weather conditions, ocean, and ice in this warmer world.
After its liftoff, the first CubeSat established contact with the ground communication setup and now the second PREFIRE CubeSat is scheduled for launch in the coming days 📅 from the same launching complex. The basic aim and focus of this mission will be clear by the following observations.
Study of Earth’s Energy Budget
The central focus of the PREFIRE mission is Earth’s energy budget, which includes collecting data and studying the balance between the incoming heat energy from the Sun and the outgoing heat given off by the planet. To determine the planet’s climate and temperature, studying the balance between heat energy is essential. The icy regions around Earth’s poles i.e. Arctic and Antarctic poles, lose a significant amount of heat through far-infrared radiation, but scientists haven’t been able to precisely measure this kind of energy release.
This missing data point is crucial because water vapor and clouds 🌨️ at the poles affect how much far-infrared radiation escapes into space 🚀. A new satellite mission called PREFIRE aims to fill this gap by gathering information on where and when this far-infrared energy radiates from the Arctic and Antarctic.
Compatibility of the PREFIRE Satellite to Study Climate Change
“The PREFIRE CubeSats is a small size satellite but will prove handy in closing gaps in our knowledge about the Earth’s energy budget”. These are the words of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab Director, Laurie Leshin, who highlights the importance of the PREFIRE CubeSat mission in understanding Earth’s energy balance.
These miniature satellites, despite their size, will provide crucial data to improve predictions about climate change impacts on ice 🥶, oceans, and weather patterns. Each CubeSat carries a specialized thermal infrared spectrometer, a miniaturized marvel that uses mirrors and sensors to measure infrared radiation. Designing these instruments for CubeSats required clever engineering, with some parts shrunk and others enlarged to fit the tight space constraints.
Moreover, according to Tristan L’Ecuyer, PREFIRE’s principal investigator, the University of Wisconsin, Madison, the mission will focus on the following points ⬇️:
- The PREFIRE will offer us new measurements that will provide access to previously unavailable data.
- The data will specifically target far-infrared radiation from Earth’s poles.
- This information will be used to refine climate and weather models.
- Improved models can ultimately aid in addressing the challenges of climate change around the globe.
Key Features of the PREFIRE Mission
PREFIRE mission came into reality after varied collaborative efforts of different entities. To dive deep into the key elements of this mission, here are some takeaways ⬇️:
- NASA’s Launch Services Program (Kennedy Space Center, Florida) is facilitating the launch through a VADR contract (Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare).
- As part of mission development, the PREFIRE is a joint effort between NASA and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) oversees the mission for the agency’s Science 🔬 Mission Directorate as part of mission management.
- JPL also provided the spectrometers and other instruments used on the CubeSats.
The construction of the Cubessat was carried out by Blue Canyon Technologies 👨💻 which built the miniature satellites themselves. - The University of Wisconsin-Madison will take responsibility for processing the data collected by the instruments.
- Rocket Lab USA Inc. (Long Beach, California) is the company contracted to launch the CubeSats.
Conclusion
To sum up, the first of a pair of climate satellites developed and designed by NASA is in orbit intending to study and collect data about the heat emissions at Earth’s poles. The satellite lifted off successfully atop Rocket 🚀👩🚀 Lab’s Electron rocket from the company’s Launch Complex 1 which is in Mahia, New Zealand on May 24.
PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) mission comprises two small shoebox-size cube satellites, or CubeSats, that will be capable of measuring the amount of heat Earth radiates into space from two of the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the Earth 🌍. NASA’s prominent scientists believe that the data gathered from the PREFIRE mission will help researchers better predict how Earth’s ice, seas, and weather will change in a warming world.
