SpaceX Falcon 9 launches NASA's PACE Earth-observing satellite into orbit

On Thursday, February 8, NASA launched its newest Earth-observing satellite, PACE, into orbit. The satellite launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Following stage separation, the rocket's first stage successfully landed at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The PACE satellite successfully made contact with ground stations back on Earth providing the mission teams with early readings of its overall status, health, operation, and capabilities postlaunch, according to the latest update from NASA.

In the coming weeks, NASA will conduct a full post-launch assessment review to determine PACE's readiness to move into the operational phase of its mission. 

Today we put the PACE in space! The newest @NASAEarth observing satellite launched on Feb. 8 at 1:33am ET (0633 UTC). It will study ocean health, air quality and climate change: https://t.co/M1fpG96JVX pic.twitter.com/BGtWhAZKAq

— NASA (@NASA) February 8, 2024

From its orbit hundreds of miles above Earth, PACE (short for Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) will study the impact of microscopic life in the oceans and microscopic particles in the atmosphere to investigate key mysteries of our planet’s interconnected systems.

The two polarimeter instruments aboard the spacecraft, Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter and Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration will detect how sunlight interacts with particles in the atmosphere, providing insights on atmospheric aerosols and cloud properties, as well as air quality at local, regional, and global scales.

"Observations and scientific research from PACE will profoundly advance our knowledge of the ocean's role in the climate cycle. The value of PACE data skyrockets when we combine it with data and science from our Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission - ushering in a new era of ocean science," said Karen St. Germain, director, Earth Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, at NASA Headquarters in Washington.