Delayed two days because of weather, a NASA satellite that will look at the tiniest parts of the air and ocean is set for an early Thursday morning launch from theSpace Coastthat could shake households inCentral Floridawhen the rockets booster creates a sonic boom during its recovery landing.
Years in the works, the Plankton, Aerosol Cloud Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite that was on the chopping block of the Trump administrations annual proposed NASA budgets several times as he sought to steer funds away from some climate-focused missions and shift money to deep-space efforts.
Now the nearly $1 billion PACE satellite sits atop a Falcon 9 rocket ready for liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force StationsSpace Launch Complex40, delayed from planned early Tuesday and Wednesday attempts because of high winds, and now targeting a1:33 a.m.liftoff Thursday.
The early morning launch could also bring a loud surprise in the form of sonic booms to theSpace Coastand surrounding counties as the booster for the flight makes a return to CanaveralsLanding Zone 1instead of downrange in theAtlantic.SpaceXwarns residents ofBrevard,Orange,Osceola,Indian River,Seminole,Volusia,Polk,St. Lucie, andOkeechobeecounties may hear one or more sonic booms depending on weather and other conditions.
Space Launch Delta45s weather squadron expects a 95% chance for good conditions for the Thursday attempt.
If it launches, it will be the eighth liftoff from theSpace Coastin 2024 during a year thatcould see as many as 111 launches.
The mission, which is being run out of NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, has been in the works for nine years, although originally conceived more than 20 years ago, saidJeremy Werdell, NASAs PACE project scientist.
What were doing here with PACE is really the search for the microscopic, mostly invisible universe in the sea and the sky in some degrees of land, he said.
Its three instruments on board look at the interactions of sunlight with clouds, a whole catalog of aerosol particulates in the air and phytoplankton, which form the base of the ocean food chain, in the sea.
Its as simple as that. We collect photons from the sun, just collect them, collect them, collect them, he said.
Werdell, whose main focus is on the oceans, andAndy Sayer, a PACE atmospheric scientist, outlined why a space-based view of this information would be beneficial.
Werdell notes there is both beneficial types of phytoplankton, such as those that help fisheries, or those that help absorb carbon dioxide, and harmful types as well, such as those related to red tide or blue-green algae that can cause fish kills and pollute the air.
Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter
Columnist Stephanie Hayes will share thoughts, feelings and funny business with you every Monday.
Subscribers Only
Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? Letsgetstarted.
For the first time on global scale well know where the harmful ones are, where the beneficial ones are, where the beneficial ones are moving to as the oceans are starting to change.
Sayers focus on clouds and aerosols will have a wide-ranging use, he says.
We have a pretty good handle from satellites on what is the total amount of aerosol, but we dont have such a good handle on how it splits down into all these different species, he said.
That ranges from industry-bred carbon emissions to sulfates to sea spray. Sayer said knowing where the various types are located can help inform public policy on air quality and human health, for instance. It can also potentially feed information on where beneficial particulate matter might prompt better agriculture or fishing.
As far as their role into how aerosols feed into cloud formation, some of that data can help feed theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That included tracking dust off the Sahara Desert.
The interactions between the kind of dust heating in the atmosphere are thought to be able to help control cloud formation and how these storms move and how they grow, he said. So the better we can get a handle on that, maybe the better we can predict these kinds of severe ends happening further and get better forecasts.
NASAs director of its Earth Science Division,Karen St. Germain, said theNOAAis a principal partner in the mission, and the data is expected could help predict hurricane intensification and track.
They are an early adopter, for many reasons, ranging from weather prediction to long-range climate to the harmful algal blooms and the things that affect fisheries, she said.
The PACE satellite builds on parts of existing observations, but most are hyperlocal, ground-based sensing, and space gives a macro view of these microscopic phenomenon, Werdell said.
We are studying the combined Earth system, Werdell said. It is not an ocean mission. Its not an atmosphere mission. Its not a land mission. Its an all-of-those-things mission. And that is so incredibly important because you cant understand one without understanding the other.
He said the science to be determined from the mission, though, is partly unknown, but thats a good thing,
The scientific community with PACE has something they can grow into, and that hasnt happened in a really long time, he said. This is a mission that we dont know what were going to learn about. And that is so deeply exciting.
The PACE mission, which has a planned 10-year lifespan once on orbit, was one of the first targeted by Trump beginning with the 2018 fiscal year budget, butCongressrestored funding to the mission with the final budget allocations. It is now set to join more than two dozen Earth science satellites currently orbiting the planet.
It has been a long strange trip as they say, an emotional Werdell said Sunday during a preflight press conference in response to the missions several near cancellations.
We were as confident as one can be that we would find ways to persevere. The community wanted all of this, he said. Not going to dive into policy or politics, but its been a really remarkable journey and the support from the community, the support from the agency, the support from people like yourselves asking questions getting involved, weve kept our morale high.
Continue reading here:
Sonic boom could hit Florida with SpaceX launch of NASA Earth science probe - Tampa Bay Times
- Elon Musk's SpaceX and Tesla get far more government money than ... - Quartz - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX fires up powerful Falcon Heavy rocket ahead of April 18 ... - Space.com - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX Dragon cargo ship departs space station and returns to Earth - Space.com - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX calls off 1st launch attempt of giant rocket in Texas - The Associated Press - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- Watch SpaceX Starship evolve and explode on the way to its 1st space launch (video) - Space.com - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX achieves liftoff in Starship test but explosion ends flight early - Reuters - April 20th, 2023 [April 20th, 2023]
- SpaceX launches world's 1st satellite that can pinpoint carbon ... - Space.com - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- SpaceX Shifts the 2nd Launch of Its Starship Rocket to Saturday - The New York Times - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral with 23 Starlink satellites Spaceflight Now - Spaceflight Now - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Watch SpaceX's Starship launch on its 2nd-ever test flight today - Space.com - November 18th, 2023 [November 18th, 2023]
- Elon Musk's recent all-hands meeting at SpaceX was full of interesting news - Ars Technica - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- When will SpaceX Starship launch again? Here's what we know. - Mashable - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX: Axiom-3 astronaut launch pushed to Thursday at Cape Canaveral - Florida Today - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches 4 people for a private mission to the International Space Station - WFDD - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Mission Im-pasta-ble: SpaceX Is Blasting Fusilli Into Orbit - The Messenger - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Axiom and SpaceX are disrupting Europe's traditional pathway to space - Ars Technica - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Crew Preps for Private Astronaut Arrival as Ax-3 Mission Nears Launch - NASA Blogs - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Environmental experts express concern about SpaceX after company's second test flight results in further damage to ... - The Cool Down - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Third Axiom Space private astronaut mission ready for launch - SpaceNews - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches astronauts from Turkey, Sweden, Italy to International Space Station - Lufkin Daily News - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches astronauts from Turkey, Sweden, Italy to space station - Newsbug.info - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- 'If it had had a payload, it would have made it to orbit.' Elon Musk reveals cause of Starship explosion (video) - Space.com - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches 1st human spaceflight of the year on Axiom Space mission - Orlando Sentinel - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Meet the 4 astronauts of SpaceX's Ax-3 launch for Axiom Space - Space.com - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches astronauts from Turkey, Sweden, Italy to space station - Mississippi Valley Publishing - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Ax-3 Launch Date Adjusted; Crew Harvests Plants and Conducts Fluid Research - NASA Blogs - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX Launches Historic Ax-3 Astronauts to Orbit - The Messenger - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX says propellant venting caused loss of second Starship - SpaceNews - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches astronauts from Turkey, Sweden, Italy to space station - Salamanca Press - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- What time is the SpaceX Ax-3 astronaut launch for Axiom Space? How to watch it live today - Space.com - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- UPDATE 2: Success as SpaceX transports first humans for 2024 with Axiom's first all European commercial astronauts ... - SatNews - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Ax-3 Go for Launch; Crew Continues Space Botany and Fluid Research - NASA Blogs - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Updates: Axiom Space Ax-3 astronaut mission launches Thursday on SpaceX Falcon 9 from KSC - Florida Today - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launch today: Rocket set for liftoff in Ax-3 mission to ISS - USA TODAY - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches third Axiom mission to ISS - SpaceNews - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches 4 people for a private mission to the International Space Station - NPR - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- SOURCES: Stripe & SpaceX Are Buying Back Their Own Shares - Newcomer - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Elon Musk's Starship 'almost made it to orbit' before violently exploding, Musk claims at SpaceX meeting - Livescience.com - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- TPWD to consider land swap with SpaceX at Boca Chica - Brownsville Herald - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Why SpaceX Is Joining Forces With a Tractor Company - Gizmodo - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- John Deere & SpaceX and Mexican GM Corn Ban - AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST - AGInfo Ag Information Network - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX To Launch NG-20 To ISS On Tuesday (updated) - Talk of Titusville - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- 'We have doubled the number of nationalities aboard' ISS as all-European SpaceX Ax-3 astronauts dock at space station - Space.com - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- List of SpaceX launches 2024 - Space Explored - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket Tuesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base after series of delays - KABC-TV - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- TPWD Commission withdraws SpaceX land swap item from meeting - MyRGV - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- T-Mobile Reveals Quarterly Results and Discusses SpaceX Partnership - RetailWire - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX Set To Launch Starlink 6-38 Early Sunday Evening From KSC - Talk of Titusville - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- NASA Invites Media to First Intuitive Machines, SpaceX Moon Launch - NASA - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Blue Origin and SpaceX start work on cargo versions of crewed lunar landers - SpaceNews - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX Delays NG-20 Launch to NET Tuesday 12:07 PM - Talk of Titusville - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Trader Joe's and SpaceX Argue the US Labor Board Is Unconstitutional - Mish Talk - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- SpaceX Appears To Be Flying This Slick Looking 737 - The War Zone - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- Estimating SpaceX's 2023 Revenue - Payload - Payload - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- What You Need to Know about NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 Mission - NASA - January 27th, 2024 [January 27th, 2024]
- US military hopes one day to move supplies, maybe troops, on SpaceX's Starship - Herald Palladium - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Weather Delays Launch of NASAs PACE Mission PACE Mission - NASA Blogs - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX rolls out Falcon 9 rocket to launch NASA's ocean-studying PACE satellite on Feb. 8 (photos) - Space.com - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX Thursday Falcon 9 Rocket Launch From Vandenberg SFB Delayed Until Friday Due To Weather News Talk ... - 1590 KVTA - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- UPDATE 3: SpaceX launches NASA's PACE satellite with new capabilities to study climate, ocean and atmosphere ... - SatNews - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Ax-3 astronauts leave International Space Station in SpaceX Dragon, eye Friday splashdown - Florida Today - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- NASA, SpaceX, PACE in Florida: Where to watch Earth-science launch - Florida Today - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX targeting Feb. 14 for launch of Intuitive Machines IM-1 private moon mission - Space.com - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- The SpaceX Axiom Space Ax-3 mission to the ISS returned to Earth - NPR - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Ax-3 Astronauts Undock in Dragon from Station for Earth Return - NASA Blogs - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Will SpaceX launch two Falcon 9 rockets from Cape Canaveral this week? - Florida Today - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX launches NASA's PACE satellite to study Earth's oceans, air and climate (video) - Space.com - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- SpaceX crew of 4 astronauts to land near Daytona Beach coast Friday morning - Daytona Beach News-Journal - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- List of all SpaceX crewed flights to space - Space Explored - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- NASA Sets Coverage for SpaceX, Intuitive Machines First Moon Mission - NASA - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Texas Billionaire's Push for Land Swap With Elon's SpaceX Is Total Crap - Gizmodo - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- The Secret to SpaceX's $10 Million Starship, and How SpaceX Will Dominate Space for Years to Come - The Motley Fool - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- How to watch SpaceX launch the private Intuitive Machines moon lander IM-1 on Feb. 14 live online - Space.com - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Russia is using SpaceX's Starlink satellite devices in Ukraine, sources say - Defense One - February 12th, 2024 [February 12th, 2024]
- Launch Imminent: SpaceX Mission to the Moon Will Have Embry-Riddle Payload Onboard - ERAU News - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX accepts DOGE, Cardano announces updates as KangaMoon presale thrives - crypto.news - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- SpaceX to launch Intuitive Machines lander Feb. 15 on 2nd try for NASA's commercial moon program - Space.com - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Elon Musk's SpaceX asks to move incorporation from Delaware to Texas - Austin American-Statesman - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- Amazon Joins Elon Musk's SpaceX In Mission to Destroy Federal Agency Protecting Workers - VICE - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]
- 'Odysseus' SpaceX launch: Could it be 1st commercial lander to reach moon? - USA TODAY - February 20th, 2024 [February 20th, 2024]