A CubeSat planet sits on a launch pad in Māhia , New Zealand , shortly before launch on May 25 , 2024.Rocket Lab
This weekend will be a interfering time for rocket launches . Not only will NASA be set about the first crewed launch of the Boeing Starliner , which iscurrently schedule for Saturday , June 1 , following a series of delays , but there will also be the second of a two - part launching of a new missionary work shout out PREFIRE ( Polar Radiant Energy in the Far - InfraRed Experiment ) .
While people often think of NASA as an means that is interested in looking outward from Earth into blank space , it also runs a whole lot of charge that are aboutlooking back at Earth from space . These missions typically feature Earth - revolve planet that are used to collect data on things like ocean level , atmospheric temperatures , the condition of river and lakes , and more . And now , they will be joined by the PREFIRE commission that will study how heat is lost from the major planet ’s pole .
A CubeSat satellite sits on a launch pad in Māhia, New Zealand, shortly before launching on May 25, 2024.Rocket Lab
“ NASA ’s innovative PREFIRE mission will make full a gap in our understanding of the Earth system , providing our scientists a elaborate delineation of how Earth ’s polar neighborhood influence how much vigour our satellite absorbs and releases , ” said Karen St. Germain , director of NASA ’s Earth Science Division , in astatement . “ This will improve prediction of sea ice loss , meth sheet melt , and ocean point rise , create a better understanding of how our planet ’s arrangement will change in the coming years — crucial data to farmers tracking change in weather and water , fishing fleet working in convert seas , and coastal communities building resiliency . ”
The commission lie of two modest satellites called CubeSats , each of which has an instrumental role called a thermal infrared spectrometer that will show heating plant being emitted from the rod . The first of these satellites was launched last Saturday , May 25 , and the second is to be launched this Saturday , June 1 . Both launches will use a Rocket Lab Electron rocket to carry the orbiter to orbit . Like the first CubeSat , the second will set up from Rocket Lab ’s Launch Complex 1 in Māhia , New Zealand .
In typical Rocket Lab style , the two launch have been given fun cod name . Last Saturday ’s was “ Ready , Aim , PREFIRE ” and this Saturday ’s is “ PREFIRE and Ice . ” If you ’d wish to catch up on last week ’s launch , television is available onRocket Lab ’s YouTube Thomas Nelson Page . The caller will also provide a livestream of the upcoming launchon its website .
Communications with the first CubeSat have already been establish , so once the 2d has been launched , there will be a 30 - Clarence Day period to check that everything is working right before the brace begin their skill surgical procedure .
“ The PREFIRE CubeSats may be small , but they ’re going to close a big disruption in our knowledge about Earth ’s energy budget , ” said Laurie Leshin , manager of NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory . “ Their observation will help us sympathize the fundamentals of Earth ’s heat balance , allowing us to better predict how our ice , seas , and weather will change in the face of global warming . ”
