On May 25, NASA launched one of its two climate satellites, which are set to study heat emissions from Earth’s poles, from Māhia, New Zealand. The second satellite is scheduled to be launched in the upcoming days. These shoebox-sized cube satellites, also known as CubeSats, will specifically measure the amount of heat that the Arctic and Antarctica radiate into space and how this impacts the Earth’s climate. This mission, named PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment), was a collaborative effort between NASA and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Exploring CubeSats

Before delving into the details of the PREFIRE mission, it’s essential to understand what CubeSats are. These miniature satellites follow a basic design of a 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm cube, weighing no more than 1.33 kg. Depending on the mission requirements, CubeSats can vary in size, with units ranging from 1.5, 2, 3, 6, to 12U. Initially developed as educational tools in 1999 by California Polytechnic State University and Stanford University, CubeSats have evolved to be utilized for technology demonstrations, research purposes, and commercial applications due to their cost-effectiveness and decreased mass compared to traditional satellites.
Each of the PREFIRE satellites is a 6U CubeSat, measuring about 90 cm in height and nearly 120 cm in width when the solar panels are deployed for satellite power. These CubeSats will orbit the Earth in a near-polar orbit at an altitude of approximately 525 kilometers.

Importance of Heat Emissions Measurement

Researchers aim to measure heat emissions at Earth’s poles to understand the planet’s energy budget better. The Earth’s energy budget represents the equilibrium between incoming solar heat and outgoing heat, which directly impacts the planet’s climate and temperature. A significant portion of the heat released from the Arctic and Antarctica is in the form of far-infrared radiation, ranging from wavelengths of 3 μm to 1,000 μm. However, there is currently no effective method to measure this energy type, leading to a gap in knowledge regarding the Earth’s energy balance.

The PREFIRE Mission

The PREFIRE mission seeks to address this gap by utilizing two CubeSats equipped with Thermal Infrared Spectrometers (TIRS) to analyze far-infrared radiation from Earth’s poles. The data collected will provide critical insights into the Earth’s energy budget and aid scientists in predicting climate changes more accurately. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director, Laurie Leshin, emphasizes that these observations are crucial for improving our understanding of Earth’s heat balance and predicting changes in ice, seas, and weather patterns in the face of global warming.
The TIRS instruments on the PREFIRE CubeSats utilize specially designed mirrors and detectors to measure infrared light effectively. Additionally, the CubeSats will assess the impact of atmospheric water vapor and clouds on trapping far-infrared radiation at the poles and how this contributes to the greenhouse effect in these regions. These findings will be essential for enhancing climate models and predicting future environmental changes.
In conclusion, NASA’s launch of tiny satellites to measure heat lost from Earth’s poles through the PREFIRE mission marks a significant advancement in climate research. By utilizing CubeSats equipped with cutting-edge technology, scientists aim to gain a deeper understanding of Earth’s energy balance and its implications for the planet’s climate. Through these innovative measures, researchers are paving the way for more accurate climate predictions and informed decision-making to address global environmental challenges.