NASA's PACE Mission to reveal Earth's climate secrets all set for launch on Feb 6

NASA’s PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) spacecraft in SpaceX’s Falcon 9 payload fairings on January 30, 2024, at the Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: NASA Goddard

In an important step towards understanding the intricate dynamics of Earth's oceans and atmosphere, NASA is gearing up for the launch of the PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) mission on February 6, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

However, the launch date might be subject to change due to weather conditions or technical reasons, potentially extending to February 8. The launch will be carried out using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

The Falcon 9 rocket will deliver PACE to an orbit approximately 420 miles (677 km) above Earth surpassing the International Space Station's orbit by about 70 percent, according to Space.com.

Purpose of PACE Mission: Unraveling Earth's climate and ocean health

Once in orbit, PACE will investigate airborne particles, including sea salt, smoke, human-made pollutants, and dust, collectively known as aerosols. PACE aims to unravel the mysteries surrounding microscopic life in water and airborne particles in the atmosphere, shedding light on their impact on Earth's climate and air quality. The mission aims to study the interaction between Earth's oceans and atmosphere in the context of a changing climate.

Cutting-edge instruments to decode Earth's atmospheric secrets

Following its launch, PACE will deploy three advanced instruments – the Ocean Color Instrument, Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration, and Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter No.2. These instruments will scan Earth every two days, gathering extensive data on aerosols and clouds' chemical composition, movement, and interaction.

PACE mission promises scientific breakthroughs

Scientists involved in the PACE mission express enthusiasm about the potential scientific growth it will bring. The mission is expected to yield insights into climate dynamics, seasonal ecosystem changes, and the effects of external factors like droughts or heat stress on vegetation, according to Fred Huemmrich, a member of NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) science and applications team and a research professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Jeroen Rietjens, an instrument scientist at the Netherlands Institute for Space Research, underscores PACE's significance in yielding unprecedented datasets for climate modelling, cloud and aerosol studies.

Jeremy Werdell, project scientist for the PACE mission, emphasized the interconnected nature of Earth's system, stating that PACE is NASA's next great investment in understanding the combined studies of land, ocean and atmosphere.

The data collected by PACE is expected to have practical applications, such as improving health advisories for wildfire smoke, monitoring harmful algal blooms, wetland health, and responding to oil spills and seeps, points out Natasha Sadoff, PACE applications deputy coordinator. And, Gary Davis, the mission systems engineer for PACE, anticipates that the mission will provide answers about the ocean that scientists haven't even been able to ask questions about yet.

PACE mission launch coverage begins at 12.45 am EST

Live coverage of the launch will commence at 12.45 am EST (or 11:15 pm Indian Standard Time (IST) on February 6, accessible on NASA+, NASA Television, and the agency's official website.