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ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab
Hot off the press (kit). All the latest info has just dropped on our next two Electron launches for @NASA's PREFIRE climate science mission. https://rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission/
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/358464.jpg)

ЦитироватьThe two dedicated missions will each deploy one satellite to a 525km circular orbit from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The first mission – named 'Ready, Aim, PREFIRE' – is scheduled to launch no earlier than May 22, 2024. The launch date of the second mission – named 'PREFIRE And Ice' – will be scheduled to take place within three weeks of the successful deployment of the first PREFIRE mission.

NASA's PREFIRE mission is a climate change-focused mission that that will systematically measure the heat, in the form of infrared and far-infrared wavelengths, lost from Earth's polar regions for the first time. Extreme storms, flooding, and coastal erosion are examples of weather outcomes that are influenced by climate conditions in the Arctic and Antarctica. Once deployed to their separate orbits, the two PREFIRE satellites will criss-cross over the Arctic and Antarctica measuring thermal infrared radiation – the same type of energy emitted from a heat lamp – that will make climate models more accurate and help predict changes caused by global warming. PREFIRE consists of two 6U CubeSats with a baseline mission length of 10 months.

The missions will be Rocket Lab's 48th and 49th Electron launches overall and its sixth and seventh launches of 2024.

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab
Just a few days after launching the first PREFIRE satellite for @NASA we're back for round two!

The 'PREFIRE and Ice' mission is scheduled for lift-off from Launch Complex 1 on 1 June NZST.
 3:00 pm, June 1 NZST
 3:00 am, June 1 UTC
 8:00 pm, May 31 PDT
 11:00 pm, May 31 EDT
More: https://bit.ly/4aI1Jl5
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/358994.jpg)

ЦитироватьLONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) ("Rocket Lab" or "the Company"), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today confirmed the scheduled launch date for the second of two back-to-back Electron launches for NASA's PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) climate change-focused mission.

The 'PREFIRE and Ice' launch is scheduled to take place on 1 June NZST just seven days after the first PREFIRE launch, 'Ready, Aim, PREFIRE,' which successfully launched on May 25th, 2024. 'PREFIRE and Ice' will lift-off from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand during a launch window that opens at 3:00 pm NZST (03:00 am, 1 June UTC).

Спойлер

NASA's PREFIRE mission consists of two shoebox-size cube satellites that will measure the amount of heat Earth radiates into space from Earth's poles. Data from the PREFIRE mission will help researchers better predict how Earth's ice, seas, and weather will change in a warming world. At the heart of the PREFIRE mission is Earth's energy budget – the balance between incoming heat energy from the Sun and the outgoing heat given off by the planet. The difference between the two is what determines the planet's temperature and climate. A lot of the heat radiated from the Arctic and Antarctica is emitted as far-infrared radiation, but there is currently no detailed measurement of this type of energy. The water vapor content of the atmosphere, along with the presence, structure, and composition of clouds, influences the amount of far-infrared radiation that escapes into space from Earth's poles. Data collected from PREFIRE will give researchers information on where and when far-infrared energy radiates from the Arctic and Antarctic environments into space.

Rocket Lab's ability to launch dedicated missions to precise orbits in quick succession is critical to the success of PREFIRE. The mission requires two separate satellites to follow similar trajectories but along different paths to overlap with each other every few hours near the Arctic and Antarctica and capture accurate heat loss measurements.

[свернуть]

'PREFIRE and Ice' will be Rocket Lab's 49th Electron launch overall and seventh launch of 2024.

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab
Electron is icy with LOX as the team makes progress through launch operations for @NASA PREFIRE. Just over an hour to go until target lift-off for today's 49th Electron launch!

NZT | 3:13pm, June 1st 
UTC | 3:13am, June 1st 
EDT | 11:13pm, May 31st
PDT | 8:13pm, May 31st
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/359051.jpg)

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab
Electron has entered a hold due to a sensor reading. Operators are assessing options for recycling the count for today's PREFIRE launch.

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab
Launch update: We are standing down from today's launch attempt due to an out-of-family sensor reading. The window for today's attempt has now closed, but we have plenty of back up opportunities in the coming days so we'll be on the pad again very soon for the PREFIRE and Ice launch.
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Launch update: We stood down from today's launch attempt for 'PREFIRE and Ice' for @NASA but we have plenty back-up opportunities in the coming days. Stay tuned for the new launch date soon.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/359052.jpg)

Цитироватьhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnNztgUvhfU 1:13
Electron aborted launch
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220832.jpg)  SciNews (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjU6ZwoTQtKWfz1urL7XcbA)
The launch of Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle with the "PREFIRE and Ice" mission, the second of two identical 6U CubeSats for NASA PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) mission, was aborted "due to an out-of-family sensor reading" from Pad B at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, on 1 June 2024, at 03:44 UTC (15:44 NZST).
Credit: Rocket Lab

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab
Launch update We stood down from today's launch attempt due to LOx temperatures being out of bounds for flight, but the resolution is well underway for the next attempt.

After assessing the weather, we are now targeting no earlier than Wednesday 5 June NZST for the launch of PREFIRE and Ice, the second of two climate launches for @NASA.

ЦитироватьMission Name: PREFIRE and ICE
Rocket: Electron
Launch Date: NET June 5th
Launch Site: Launch Complex 1, New Zealand
Launch Time: Launch window opens 15:00 NZST
Payload: PREFIRE-2
...

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab
Launch update We are GO for tomorrow's launch attempt for the 'PREFIRE and Ice' mission for @NASA, our second launch for the PREFIRE mission to monitor Earth's heat loss from the world's coldest regions.

Launch window opens NET:
...
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/359115.jpg)

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab
Welcome to launch day! Electron will launch the second satellite of @NASA's PREFIRE climate science mission from Launch Complex 1 today.
 
PREFIRE and Ice info:
NET 15:15 NZST
2nd PREFIRE satellite
Launch Complex 1, NZ
525km low Earth orbit
 https://rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission/

Цитироватьhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBBhzkNzcYQ
Rocket Lab - 'PREFIRE & Ice' Launch
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220777.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/@RocketLabNZ)  Rocket Lab (https://www.youtube.com/@RocketLabNZ)

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab
The weather outlook for today's launch for @NASA
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/359118.jpg)

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab  ·  4h
Ignitor test successful. Electron moves a step closer to lift-off for today's second launch for @NASA's PREFIRE mission.
Lift-off targeted for:
NZST | 15:15
UTC | 03:15
EDT | 23:15
PDT | 20:15
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/359119.jpg)

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab  ·  56m
LOX loading currently underway on Electron. Now under two hours to lift-off for the PREFIRE mission for @NASA.
Lift-off targeted for:
NZST | 15:15
UTC | 03:15
EDT | 23:15
PDT | 20:15 
Mission info: https://rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission/
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/359120.jpg)

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab
Second stage engine shut down completed as planned! Electron is in orbit and the Kick Stage now takes over the mission with PREFIRE-2 still attached. Target orbit: 525km. Right now though we're in a coast phase ahead of payload deployment around 40 mins from now.

ЦитироватьRocket Lab  @RocketLab
PREFIRE-2 for @NASA has been deployed! That's mission success for Electron on our 49th launch.

The mission to detect heat loss to space from the Arctic and Antarctic now begins for @NASAJPL.

Цитировать2024-108A    59965   ELECTRON R/B                      91.70   97.50   524   192   0.0246555       0.38
2024-108B    59966   PREFIRE-2                              95.26   97.45   538   524   0.0010653       0.37
2024-108C    59967   ELECTRON KICK STAGE R/B   94.44   97.44   527   456   0.0051880       0.37

Цитировать2024-108A    59965   PREFIRE-2                              95.26   97.45   539   523   0.0011005
2024-108B    59966   ELECTRON R/B                       91.54   97.50   509   191   0.0236246
2024-108C    59967   ELECTRON KICK STAGE R/B   94.44   97.44   527   456   0.0051880

Цитировать2024-099A    59881   PREFIRE-2    95.07   97.47   532   512   0.0014953
2024-108A    59965   PREFIRE-1    95.04   97.47   530   511   0.0014134

ЦитироватьTwin Mini NASA Satellites Capture Data on Polar Heat Emissions
Two shoebox-size satellites, part of NASA's Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-Infrared Experiment (PREFIRE) mission, are delivering measurements on the amount of heat in the form of far-infrared radiation that the Arctic and Antarctica emit to space. This aspect of the polar environment has never been systematically measured before and will offer crucial insights into Earth's energy budget. The information will help researchers gain a clearer understanding of when and where Earth's polar regions emit far-infrared radiation to space, as well as how atmospheric water vapor and clouds influence the amount that escapes.

The first cube satellite, or CubeSat, launched on May 25 from New Zealand and started sending back science data in July. Launched on June 5, the second CubeSat had an issue with its GPS unit, which researchers were planning to use to help geolocate the science data from the satellite. After the GPS unit on the first CubeSat also began experiencing issues, the PREFIRE team decided to turn off the GPS units on both CubeSats and use an alternative method for geolocating the science data. The second CubeSat started sending back science data in August. The GPS issue has not affected the science operations of either CubeSat.

Initial data products from both CubeSats were made publicly available in late October through NASA's Atmospheric Science Data Center. Subsequent data products are scheduled for public release in early 2025. Data from the mission will help researchers better predict how a changing climate will affect the planet's ice, seas, and weather. This information can be used to help communities around the world better prepare for shifts in climate and weather patterns.