SpaceX Launches NASA PACE Satellite To Monitor The Atmosphere And Study The Oceans
The United States successfully sent into space the PACE satellite, which is designed to study the ocean. The device will study the impact of microscopic life in the oceans and particles in the atmosphere on the health of the planet and its climate.
The device was launched into orbit using a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle, which launched today from the Cape Canaveral launch site in Florida at 01:33 local time.
About five minutes after launch, the satellite was delivered to the intended orbit, and NASA specialists were able to communicate with it.
Located about 800 km above the Earth’s surface, the PACE satellite will study the effects of tiny, often invisible, particles in the planet’s water and atmosphere. The design of the device includes the Ocean Color Instrument, which is an optical spectrometer for observing the ocean and other bodies of water. It will help scientists monitor the distribution of phytoplankton and study the communities of these microorganisms. PACE is also equipped with the HARP2 polarimeter and the SPEXone spectropolarimeter, which will help learn more about the interaction of sunlight with microparticles in the atmosphere.
PACE is part of NASA’s Earth Systematic Missions program, which includes a series of Earth-observing missions to help us better understand global change and its impact on life on Earth.
