Mission NASA PRELIMINARY FIRE It uses two small CubeSats to measure far-infrared radiation emitted by Earth’s polar regions, offering an unprecedented perspective on the Arctic and Antarctic’s contribution to the planet’s energy balance. Despite problems with GPS, satellites have been successfully collecting and transmitting data using alternative geolocation methods since mid-2023.

NASA’s PREFIRE mission

Two shoebox-sized satellites of NASA’s Polar Radiant Energy Far Infrared Experiment (PREFIRE) mission measure heat radiated into space as far-infrared radiation from the Arctic and Antarctic. Such data has not been collected systematically before and provides important information about the Earth’s energy balance. The measurements will help researchers better understand when and where polar regions emit far-infrared radiation and how factors such as atmospheric water vapor and clouds affect the amount of heat released.

GPS troubleshooting and data collection

The first cube satellite, or CubeSat, was launched from New Zealand on May 25 and began sending back scientific data in July. The second CubeSat, launched on June 5, had a problem with the GPS device that researchers planned to use to geolocate scientific data from the satellite.

After the GPS unit on the first CubeSat also began experiencing problems, the PREFIRE team decided to turn off the GPS units on both CubeSats and use an alternative method to geolocate the science data. A second CubeSat began sending back science data in August. The GPS issue did not affect the scientific work of the CubeSat.

Availability of public data and future programs

Initial data from both CubeSats was released through NASA’s Atmospheric Science Data Center in late October. The next data is scheduled to be published in early 2025. Data from the mission will help researchers better predict how climate change will affect the planet’s ice, seas and weather. This information can be used to help communities around the world better prepare for climate and weather changes.