Revolutionary new satellite to provide unprecedented view of Earth’s microscopic marine life and tiny atmospheric particles
NASA is preparing to launch a pioneering new satellite that will unveil a previously unprecedented view of Earth’s microscopic marine life and tiny atmospheric particles. The PACE mission, or Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud and Ocean Ecosystem, is scheduled to lift off at 1:33 a.m. ET on Thursday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Space Force Station at Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Weather conditions are currently 95% favorable for the launch, which will be live-streamed on NASA’s website and YouTube channel. The launch, initially scheduled for this Tuesday morning, has been delayed twice due to poor weather conditions at the launch site.
The mission aims to better understand how ocean and atmospheric processes shape the planet, providing crucial insights into ocean health and global warming. PACE will feature three instruments, including two polarimeters and a camera, that will capture a diverse range of data at various wavelengths of light, allowing scientists to see things never seen before.
Although designed as a three-year mission, PACE has the capacity to orbit and study Earth for up to 10 years. It will join a fleet of more than two dozen NASA ground science missions, collecting data on oceans, land, ice, and atmosphere to offer more detailed information about how Earth’s climate is evolving.
The recent announcement that 2023 was the hottest year on record, and the surge in global temperatures, underscores the urgency of this mission. PACE is expected to enhance understanding of the exchange of carbon between the ocean and atmosphere, providing valuable insight into factors contributing to global warming.
The spacecraft will also play a crucial role in studying aerosol particles, an essential component of Earth’s weather, air quality, and climate. It will allow scientists to monitor aerosol composition and location in the atmosphere, determining hotspots of polluted air and providing better warnings.
PACE will also revolutionize the study of ocean biology, with the capability to identify different species of phytoplankton from space for the first time. The mission’s insights are expected to shed light on phytoplankton’s role in the marine food web and their impact on the production of oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
“I like to say that PACE is a mission that will use that unique view of space to study the smallest things that have the biggest impact on the oceans,” said Karen St. Germain, director of NASA Earth Sciences Division.
PACE is poised to deliver groundbreaking discoveries and expand our understanding of the intricate balance of life on Earth, setting an extraordinary standard for scientific exploration.