3, 2, 1... PREFIRE!

The first of the twin PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) CubeSats is now in low-Earth orbit after lifting off atop Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from Māhia, New Zealand at 12:41am PT on Saturday, May 25. The mission consists of two shoebox-size cube satellites, or CubeSats, that will measure the amount of heat Earth radiates into space from two of the coldest, most remote regions on the planet. Data from the mission will help researchers better predict how Earth’s ice, seas, and weather will change in a warming world.

At the heart of the PREFIRE mission is Earth’s energy budget — the balance between incoming heat energy from the Sun and the outgoing heat given off by the planet. The difference between the two is what determines Earth’s temperature and climate. A lot of the heat radiated from the Arctic and Antarctica is emitted as far-infrared radiation, but there is currently no detailed measurement of that far-infrared energy. Until now! Each of PREFIRE’s CubeSats will carry an instrument called a thermal infrared spectrometer, which use specially shaped mirrors and sensors to measure infrared wavelengths and will give researchers information on where and when far-infrared energy radiates from the Arctic and Antarctic environments into space.

The second PREFIRE CubeSat will set off on its own Electron rocket in the coming days. PREFIRE has a prime mission of 10 months following a 30-day checkout period, when engineers and scientists will make sure both CubeSats are operating normally.

Image credit: Rocket Lab

#NASA #NASAJPL #ReadyAimPREFIRE #Earth #EarthScience #Climate #PREFIRE #CubeSat #Launch #EarthMission

Image Description:
A vertical image shows a RocketLab Electron rocket taking off. The top half of the image shows the base of the rocket. It is nearly black, set against a black and orange smokey background. At the base of the rocket are four visible nozzles emitting the rocket’s exhaust. These glowing yellow, orange, and white flames take up the bottom half of the image.