# Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem > NASA Earth-observing satellite **Wikidata**: [Q25377815](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q25377815) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plankton,_Aerosol,_Cloud,_ocean_Ecosystem) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/plankton-aerosol-cloud-ocean-ecosystem ## Summary Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) is a NASA‑funded Earth‑observation satellite launched on 8 February 2024. Operated by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, PACE carries instruments to measure oceanic plankton, atmospheric aerosols, and cloud properties from a sun‑synchronous orbit, providing unprecedented data for climate and marine‑ecosystem research. ## Key Facts - **Launch date:** 8 February 2024 (06:33:32 UTC) 【launch_date】 - **Launch vehicle:** SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 (booster B1081.4) from Cape Canaveral SLC‑40 【launch_vehicle】【start_point】 - **Operator & manufacturer:** Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA 【operator】【manufacturer】 - **Mission class:** Earth‑observation satellite 【instance_of】 - **Mass at launch:** 1 694 kg (launch weight) 【mass】 - **Orbit:** Sun‑synchronous orbit 【satellite_of】 - **Design service life:** 3 years 【service_life】 - **Capital cost:** ≈ US $964 million 【capital_cost】 - **Power source:** Single spacecraft solar array 【powered_by】 - **Primary scientific focus:** Quantifying global plankton, aerosol, and cloud distributions to improve climate and ocean‑ecosystem models 【aliases】 ## FAQs ### Q: What does the PACE satellite measure? A: PACE measures the concentration and composition of oceanic plankton, atmospheric aerosols, and cloud particles, delivering high‑resolution data that help scientists understand Earth’s carbon cycle and climate dynamics. ### Q: Who built and operates PACE? A: The satellite was built by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and is also operated by Goddard, with launch services provided by SpaceX. ### Q: When and how was PACE launched? A: PACE launched on 8 February 2024 at 06:33:32 UTC aboard a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket (booster B1081.4) from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40. ### Q: How long will PACE function in orbit? A: The satellite is designed for a three‑year operational lifetime, after which its instruments are expected to be decommissioned. ### Q: Why is PACE important for climate science? A: By delivering the first global, simultaneous measurements of plankton, aerosols, and clouds, PACE fills critical data gaps, enabling more accurate climate predictions and better management of marine resources. ## Why It Matters PACE provides the first comprehensive, satellite‑based view of the interconnected ocean‑atmosphere system at a planetary scale. Plankton drive the ocean’s biological carbon pump, aerosols influence cloud formation and radiative forcing, and clouds themselves regulate Earth’s energy balance. Accurate, simultaneous observations of these components are essential for reducing uncertainties in climate models, forecasting weather extremes, and guiding policy on carbon mitigation and marine conservation. The mission’s high‑cost investment reflects its potential to transform our understanding of Earth’s climate feedbacks, support sustainable fisheries, and inform international climate agreements. By delivering near‑real‑time, globally consistent datasets, PACE empowers scientists, policymakers, and educators to make data‑driven decisions about the planet’s future. ## Notable For - **First dedicated mission** to jointly observe global plankton, aerosol, and cloud properties from space. - **High‑cost, high‑value investment** of roughly US $964 million, underscoring its strategic importance for climate research. - **Sun‑synchronous orbit** enables consistent lighting conditions for precise, repeatable measurements. - **Powered by a single solar array**, simplifying design while meeting the energy needs of its sophisticated instruments. - **Operated by NASA’s premier research center**, Goddard Space Flight Center, ensuring integration with a long legacy of Earth‑science missions. ## Body ### Mission Overview PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) is an Earth‑observation satellite launched to fill critical observational gaps in the Earth system. Its primary goal is to quantify the distribution and dynamics of marine phytoplankton, atmospheric aerosols, and cloud particles, which together regulate the planet’s carbon cycle and climate. ### Technical Specifications - **Mass:** 1 694 kg (launch weight) – measured as the launch mass of the spacecraft. - **Power:** Solar array (single unit) – provides the necessary electricity for the payload and bus. - **Orbit:** Sun‑synchronous – maintains a consistent local solar time for each overpass, essential for radiometric consistency. - **Design Life:** 3 years – defined as the mission’s intended operational period. ### Launch Details - **Date & Time:** 8 Feb 2024, 06:33:32 UTC. - **Vehicle:** SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5, booster designation B1081.4. - **Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC‑40). - **Contractor:** SpaceX – responsible for launch services. ### Funding and Management - **Funder:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). - **Operator & Manufacturer:** Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA’s first space flight center, headquartered in Greenbelt, Maryland, United States. - **Capital Cost:** US $964 million – covering spacecraft development, launch, and early operations. ### Scientific Payload While the specific instrument suite is not detailed in the source, the mission’s alias list (“Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem”) indicates sensors capable of: - **Ocean color spectroscopy** for phytoplankton biomass and composition. - **Multi‑spectral aerosol retrieval** to assess particle size, type, and distribution. - **Cloud microphysics** measurements to determine droplet size and optical properties. ### Data Access and Outreach - **Website:** [nasa.gov/pace](https://nasa.gov/pace) (primary portal) and [pace.oceansciences.org](https://pace.oceansciences.org/) for scientific data and documentation. - **Publications:** Mission details are described on NASA’s feature page “A walk through the rainbow with PACE.” ### Related Entities - **Earth observation satellite (class):** PACE belongs to the broader class of artificial satellites designed for Earth monitoring. - **Goddard Space Flight Center:** The mission’s operator and manufacturer, a U.S. federal research laboratory established in 1959. - **Falcon 9 Block 5:** The launch vehicle, the current version of SpaceX’s reusable orbital rocket. ### Future Outlook With a three‑year design life, PACE is expected to deliver a continuous, high‑resolution dataset that will be integrated into climate models, marine ecosystem assessments, and policy frameworks. Its legacy will likely influence the design of subsequent Earth‑science missions focused on the coupled ocean‑atmosphere system. ## References 1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/pace_nasa.htm) 2. [Source](http://www.celestrak.org/satcat/table-satcat.php?CATNR=58928) 3. [Source](https://www.space-track.org/#catalog) 4. Jonathan's Space Report 5. [Source](https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/02/pace-launch/) 6. [Source](https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/02/trump-tried-to-kill-it-but-nasas-new-climate-satellite-is-finally-in-orbit/) 7. [Source](https://www.science.org/content/article/billion-dollar-nasa-mission-will-provide-unprecedented-view-ocean-life)