NASA Launches PACE Mission to Study Ocean and Atmosphere

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched the Plankton, Aerosol, Climate, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite. The satellite launched …
NASA Launches PACE Mission to Study Ocean and Atmosphere
NASA PACE Mission
NASA launches PACE Satellite aboard Falcon-9. Credit: SpaceX

Ibadan, 9 February 2024. – The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched the Plankton, Aerosol, Climate, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite. The satellite launched into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, to study ocean health, air quality, and the effects of a changing climate for the benefit of humanity. NASA subsequently confirmed signal acquisition from the satellite about five minutes after launch.

The satellite’s hyperspectral ocean color instrument will allow researchers to measure oceans and other waterbodies across a spectrum of ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light. This will enable scientists to track the distribution of phytoplankton and – for the first time from space – identify which communities of these organisms are present on daily, global scales. Scientists and coastal resource managers can consequently use the data to help forecast the health of fisheries, track harmful algal blooms, and identify changes in the marine environment.

New Space Initiative_Bonn

The spacecraft also carries two polarimeter instruments, Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter #2 and Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration. These will detect how sunlight interacts with particles in the atmosphere, giving researchers new information on atmospheric aerosols and cloud properties, as well as air quality at local, regional, and global scales. Combining the instrument and the polarimeters will enable PACE to provide insights into the interactions of the ocean and atmosphere and how a changing climate affects these interactions.

Commenting on the mission, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said, “With this new addition to NASA’s fleet of Earth-observing satellites, PACE will help us learn, like never before, how particles in our atmosphere and our oceans can identify key factors impacting global warming.” “Congratulations to the PACE team on a successful launch,” He also added.

Picture of Joshua Faleti
Joshua Faleti
News Editor
Continue Reading
Business Club - Thank You
Join BusinessClub
SWGL FanShop

Don't Miss Any Updates

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe now to receive the best of space insights directly in your inbox! Free of charge, finished in just 20 seconds!
* Required
Email
Contact
Newsletter
Please select the newsletter of your choice *

Yes, I would like to receive the selected newsletters for free.

You can unsubscribe anytime via the link in our emails or by contacting us. We respect your information. For details, check our Privacy Policy.
By clicking below, you agree to our terms, in particular the transfer of data to Mailchimp.
.