PREFIRE Mission by NASA Set to Explore Earth’s Poles
Key Takeaway
NASA’s PREFIRE mission is set to enhance our understanding of heat emissions from Earth’s poles using a pair of cubesats designed to measure far-infrared radiation. This data will provide critical insights into the rapidly changing polar climates and their global impacts.
Summary
- Mission Name: Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-Infrared Experiment (PREFIRE)
- Objective: Measure heat emissions from Earth’s polar regions
- Satellites: Two cubesats, “Ready, Aim, PREFIRE” and “PREFIRE and ICE”
- Launch Dates: May 22 (Ready, Aim, PREFIRE), a few days later (PREFIRE and ICE)
- Launch Site: Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1, Māhia, New Zealand
- Primary Instrument: Thermal infrared spectrometers
- Key Measurements: Far-infrared radiation (wavelengths > 15 microns)
- Significance: Data to improve climate models, predict sea level rise, and understand polar climate impacts
- Accessibility: Open and freely available data for global scientists
- Partners: University of Wisconsin-Madison, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Similar Missions: Mars Climate Sounder (MCS), Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment
The PREFIRE Mission
Heat emissions from Earth’s polar regions are a critical component of our planet’s climate system. However, we know surprisingly little about how this heat is lost to space. NASA’s Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-Infrared Experiment (PREFIRE) aims to change that. This mission, involving two small cubesats, will provide unprecedented data on the far-infrared radiation emitted from the Arctic and Antarctic, offering new insights into the polar climate and its broader impacts on global weather systems.
Mission Overview
The Satellites
PREFIRE consists of two cubesats, rightly named “Ready, Aim, PREFIRE” and “PREFIRE and ICE.” These compact satellites, each about the size of a loaf of bread, will launch separately into near-polar orbits. The first cubesat is scheduled to launch on May 22, 2024, aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Māhia, New Zealand. The second will follow a few days later.
Scientific Goals
The primary goal of PREFIRE is to measure far-infrared radiation, specifically wavelengths longer than 15 microns. This spectrum accounts for approximately 60% of the total heat lost at the poles. “We’ve never measured that before,” said Tristan L’Ecuyer, PREFIRE’s Principal Investigator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, emphasizing the mission’s groundbreaking nature.
The Importance of Polar Heat Emissions
Rapid Arctic Warming
The Arctic is experiencing warming at a rate faster than any other region on Earth, leading to significant changes in local ecosystems and global weather patterns. Understanding how heat is emitted from this region is crucial for predicting future climate changes. “Ultimately, [PREFIRE] information is going to be combined with our climate models,” L’Ecuyer explained, “and hopefully we’ll be able to improve our ability to simulate what sea level rise might look like in the future.”
Global Climate Impacts
The data collected by PREFIRE will be invaluable in refining our climate models, particularly in understanding how polar changes affect weather systems worldwide. This includes better predictions of phenomena such as sea level rise and extreme weather events.
Technical Specifications
Instruments and Design
Each PREFIRE cubesat is equipped with a single thermal infrared spectrometer. These instruments are scaled-down versions of technology used in previous NASA missions, such as the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) and the Mars Climate Sounder (MCS). Mary White, PREFIRE Project Manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, noted, “We’ve adapted proven technology for a cost-effective, focused mission.”
Dual-Satellite Approach
Having two satellites provides a unique advantage. “Having one cubesat would be able to sort of map out what the emission looks like in the polar regions,” said L’Ecuyer. “We’ll be using the two cubesats to make measurements over the course of several hours, taking the difference between those measurements and trying to understand how the processes that are occurring in the Arctic are actually affecting the emission from the Arctic.”
Broader Context and Collaboration
Part of a Larger Effort
PREFIRE fits into NASA’s broader strategy of combining large-scale missions with smaller, specialized ones to create a comprehensive understanding of Earth’s climate system. Karen St. Germain, NASA’s Earth Science Division director, explained, “NASA needs both our large missions and these smaller missions… to answer this full range of questions we have about understanding the Earth as a system.”
Data Accessibility
In line with NASA’s commitment to open science, all data collected by PREFIRE will be freely available to the public. This ensures that researchers worldwide can access and utilize this valuable information to further our collective understanding of climate dynamics. “All NASA data are open and freely available to all scientists or all people who are interested around the world,” White confirmed.
Expected Outcomes
Enhanced Climate Models
The insights gained from PREFIRE will significantly enhance our climate models. By providing detailed measurements of far-infrared radiation, scientists can better understand the heat exchange processes at the poles and their influence on global climate systems. This will improve predictions of future climate scenarios, including the rate and impact of sea level rise.
Informed Policy Decisions
The data from PREFIRE will not only advance scientific knowledge but also inform policy decisions related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Accurate climate models are essential for developing effective strategies to address the ongoing and future impacts of global warming.
Tables
Table 1: Key Details of PREFIRE Mission
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Mission Name | Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-Infrared Experiment (PREFIRE) |
| Objective | Measure heat emissions from Earth’s polar regions |
| Satellites | Two cubesats: “Ready, Aim, PREFIRE” and “PREFIRE and ICE” |
| Launch Dates | May 22, 2024 (Ready, Aim, PREFIRE), a few days later (PREFIRE and ICE) |
| Launch Site | Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1, Māhia, New Zealand |
| Primary Instrument | Thermal infrared spectrometers |
| Measurement Focus | Far-infrared radiation (wavelengths > 15 microns) |
| Data Accessibility | Open and freely available to the public |
| Partners | University of Wisconsin-Madison, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
Table 2: Similar NASA Missions and Technologies
| Mission | Objective | Key Instrument | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) | Study Martian atmosphere and climate | Thermal infrared spectrometer | Improved understanding of Martian climate processes |
| Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment | Measure lunar surface temperatures | Radiometer | Detailed thermal maps of the Moon’s surface |
| Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) | Map mineral composition of the Moon | Imaging spectrometer | Discovery of water/hydroxyl on the lunar surface |
NASA’s PREFIRE mission represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the polar climate and its global impacts. By measuring far-infrared radiation from the Arctic and Antarctic, PREFIRE will provide critical data to improve climate models, predict sea level rise, and understand the broader effects of polar climate change. The mission’s open data policy ensures that scientists worldwide can access and utilize this information, fostering global collaboration in the fight against climate change.
With PREFIRE, NASA continues to lead the way in climate research, combining cutting-edge technology with a commitment to open science and international cooperation. As the mission unfolds, the data collected will be invaluable in our efforts to understand and mitigate the impacts of a warming world.
