Daily Archives: February 9, 2024

UPDATE 3: Thursday, February 8 at 1:33 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched NASAs PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) mission to a sun-synchronous orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

This was the fourth flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-7, CRS-29, and one Starlink mission.

NASAs satellite mission to study ocean health, air quality, and the effects of a changing climate for the benefit of humanity launched successfully into orbit at 1:33 a.m. EST Thursday.

Known as PACE, the Plankton, Aerosol, Climate, ocean Ecosystem satellite, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA confirmed signal acquisition from the satellite about five minutes after launch, and the spacecraft is performing as expected.

Congratulations to the PACE team on a successful launch. With this new addition to NASAs fleet of Earth-observing satellites, PACE will help us learn, like never before, how particles in our atmosphere and our oceans can identify key factors impacting global warming, said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. Missions like this are supporting the Biden-Harris Administrations climate agenda and helping us answer urgent questions about our changing climate.

From hundreds of miles above Earth, the PACE mission will study the impact of tiny, often invisible things: microscopic life in water and microscopic particles in the air.

The satellites hyperspectral ocean color instrument will allow researchers to measure oceans and other waterbodies across a spectrum of ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light. This will enable scientists to track the distribution of phytoplankton and for the first time from space identify which communities of these organisms are present on daily, global scales. Scientists and coastal resource managers can use the data to help forecast the health of fisheries, track harmful algal blooms, and identify changes in the marine environment.

The spacecraft also carries two polarimeter instruments, Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter #2 and Spectro-polarimeterfor Planetary Exploration. These will detect how sunlight interacts with particles in the atmosphere, giving researchers new information on atmospheric aerosols and cloud properties, as well as air quality at local, regional, and global scales.

With the combination of the instrument and the polarimeters, PACE will provide insights into the interactions of the ocean and atmosphere, and how a changing climate affects these interactions.

Observations and scientific research from PACE will profoundly advance our knowledge of the oceans role in the climate cycle, said Karen St. Germain, director, Earth Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. 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. As an open-source science mission with early adopters ready to use its research and data, PACE will accelerate our understanding of the Earth system and help NASA deliver actionable science, data, and practical applications to help our coastal communities and industries address rapidly evolving challenges.

Its been an honor to work with the PACE team and witness firsthand their dedication and tenacity in overcoming challenges, including the global pandemic, to make this observatory a reality, said Marjorie Haskell, PACE program executive at NASA Headquarters. The passion and teamwork are matched only by the excitement of the science community for the data this new satellite will provide.

Earths oceans are responding in many ways to climate change from sea level rise to marine heat waves to a loss of biodiversity. With PACE, researchers will be able to study climate changes effects on phytoplankton, which play a key role in the global carbon cycle by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into their cellular material. These tiny organisms drive larger aquatic and global ecosystems that provide critical resources for food security, recreation, and the economy.

After 20 years of thinking about this mission, its exhilarating to watch it finally realized and to witness its launch. I couldnt be prouder or more appreciative of our PACE team, said Jeremy Werdell, PACE project scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The opportunities PACE will offer are so exciting, and were going to be able to use these incredible technologies in ways we havent yet anticipated. Its truly a mission of discovery.

NASAs Launch Services Program, based at the agencys Kennedy Space Center in Florida, managed the launch services for the mission. The PACE mission is managed by NASA Goddard, which also built and tested the spacecraft and the ocean color instrument. The Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter #2 was designed and built by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the Spectro-polarimeterfor Planetary Exploration was developed and built by a Dutch consortium led by Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Airbus Defense, and Space Netherlands.

UPDATE 2: NASA and SpaceX are standing down from the Wednesday, February 7, launch of the agencys Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission due to ground winds preventing prelaunch checkouts. The team is targeting liftoff at 1:33 a.m. EST Thursday, February 8, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The satellite and rocket remain healthy and ready for launch.

If needed, a backup opportunity is available Friday, February 9 at the same time.

A live webcast of this mission will begin on NASA+ and NASA Television about 45 minutes prior to liftoff.

This is the fourth flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-7, CRS-29, and one Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

SpaceX is ready to keep pace despite weather and launch NASAs PACE mission

SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, February 7 at 1:33 a.m. ET for a Falcon 9 launch of NASAs PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) mission to a sun-synchronous orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. If needed, a backup opportunity is available Thursday, February 8 at the same time.

PACE is scheduled to fly from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday, February 7, at 1:33 AM EST (06:33 UTC), during an instantaneous launch window. The flight was previously scheduled for February 6 but was delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions. Falcon 9 will take a southbound trajectory to a Sun-synchronous polar orbit that allows for the satellite to see a given spot on Earth at the same time every day.

A live webcast of this mission will begin on NASA+ and NASA Television about 45 minutes prior to liftoff.

This is the fourth flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-7, CRS-29, and one Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. January was a record-setting month featuring 10 launches for SpaceX and this will be a busy February as well.

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UPDATE 3: SpaceX launches NASA's PACE satellite with new capabilities to study climate, ocean and atmosphere ... - SatNews

The SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft (left) backs away from the space station carrying four Axiom Mission 3 astronauts. The SpaceX Dragon Endurance (right) is pictured docked to the Harmony modules space-facing port. Credit: NASA TV

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft undocked from the space-facing port of the International Space Stations Harmony module at 9:20 a.m. EST over the Pacific Ocean, west of Ecuador, to complete the third all-private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3).

Dragon is slowly maneuvering away from the orbital laboratory into an orbital track that will return the astronaut crew and its cargo safely to Earth, targeting a splashdown off the coast of Daytona, Florida, at approximately 8:30 a.m. EST Friday, Feb. 9.

Ax-3 astronauts Michael Lpez-Alegra, Walter Villadei, Marcus Wandt, and Alper Gezeravci will complete 18 days aboard the orbiting laboratory at the conclusion of their mission. The SpaceX Dragon will return to Earth with more than 550 pounds of science and supplies, including NASA experiments and hardware.

Joint operations with the Axiom and SpaceX mission teams end and NASA coverage of the mission concludes when the spacecraft exits the area of the space station, approximately 30 minutes after undocking.

Axiom Space leads independent mission operations for Ax-3 and will resume coverage of Dragons re-entry and splashdown.

Learn more about station activities by following thespace station blog,@space_stationand@ISS_Researchon X, as well as theISS FacebookandISS Instagramaccounts.

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Ax-3 Astronauts Undock in Dragon from Station for Earth Return - NASA Blogs

There will be some exciting spaceflight action on Valentine's Day, if all goes according to plan.

SpaceX and Houston-based Intuitive Machines are targeting Feb. 14 for the launch of the private IM-1 moon mission, the two companies announced on Monday (Feb. 5).

IM-1 is scheduled to lift off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Feb. 14 at 12:57 a.m. EST (0557 GMT), sending Intuitive Machines' robotic Nova-C lander "Odysseus" toward Earth's nearest neighbor.

On Feb. 22, Odysseus will try to make history, becoming the first-ever private spacecraft to land softly on the lunar surface.

"As we prepare to embark on our IM-1 mission to the moon, we carry with us the collective spirit of perseverance, fueled by the dedication and hard work of everyone on our team," Intuitive Machines President and CEO Steve Altemus said in a statement.

"Their tireless efforts have brought us to this moment, where we stand on the precipice of history, humbled by the gravity of our mission, yet emboldened by the boundless possibilities that lie ahead," he added.

Related: Moon mining gains momentum as private companies plan for a lunar economy

Feb. 14 is the first day of a three-day launch window; there will also be opportunities on Feb. 15 and Feb. 16, said Julianna Scheiman, SpaceX's director of civil satellite missions. (We already knew about this month's three-day window, but SpaceX and Intuitive Machines had not previously identified the dates.)

The two companies have been making progress toward the fast-approaching liftoff. For example, they encapsulated Odysseus inside its Falcon 9's payload fairing on Jan. 31. Another major milestone will occur tomorrow (Feb. 7) a fueling test of Odysseus on the pad.

"We'll be performing essentially a tanking test, or wet dress rehearsal, for that spacecraft on February 7, and we're tracking well to a February 14 launch," Scheiman said on Monday during a briefing that focused on SpaceX's planned Feb. 7 launch of NASA's PACE Earth-observing spacecraft.

If IM-1 cannot get off the ground during this month's three-day window, the next opportunity will come in March, SpaceX representatives have said.

Odysseus is carrying 12 payloads on IM-1. Six are commercial and six are NASA science instruments, manifested via the agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program (CLPS).

CLPS aims to pave the way for a human return to the moon, which NASA's Artemis program is working toward, by using private robotic spacecraft to get science gear to Earth's nearest neighbor.

IM-1 won't be the first CLPS-affiliated effort to get off the ground: Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander launched Jan. 8 on the debut mission of United Launch Alliance's new Vulcan Centaur rocket.

Peregrine suffered a fuel leak shortly after deploying from Vulcan Centaur's upper stage, however, dashing its lunar dreams. The lander's handlers guided Peregrine to a controlled destruction in Earth's atmosphere on Jan. 18.

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SpaceX targeting Feb. 14 for launch of Intuitive Machines IM-1 private moon mission - Space.com

NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite is set to depart Earth from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday (Feb. 8) at 1:33 a.m. EST (0633 GMT.) It will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Launch had been planned for Tuesday (Feb. 6) and Wednesday (Feb. 7) at the same time, but bad weather forced a delay.

Ahead of the launch, NASA and SpaceX experts gathered to discuss the impact the PACE mission will have on climate science as it monitors the interaction between Earth's oceans and atmosphere.

Related: NASA's PACE satellite will study Earth's tiniest mysteries from space: Watch it launch live Feb. 6

"Understanding how ocean life interacts with the atmosphere and the global climate is one of the secrets of the universe right here at home. Aerosols that cycle through the ocean and atmosphere are a factor in how clouds form and how weather systems behave," NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free said at a press conference on Monday (Feb. 5). "But exactly how that process works is a scientific mystery. Unraveling it is one big goal of the PACE mission in line of course with NASA's charge to explore the unknown in air and space."

Free added that PACE will join the two dozen NASA missions in orbit currently that collect vital data on Earth's land, ocean, atmosphere and ice. The mission's data will be used by scientists and policymakers to safeguard against the threat of global climate change.

Also speaking at the press event, Director of NASA's Earth Science Division Karen St. Germain explained that PACE will use its vantage point to investigate tiny micro-organisms that play a huge role on Earth, microalgae called phytoplankton.

"Our Earth is a water planet. The surface of the Earth is covered 70% by oceans, and yet, in many ways, we know more about the surface of the moon than we do about our own oceans," St. Germain said. "Phytoplankton are at the base of the marine food chain. They serve our fisheries and the health of the oceans. They are also responsible for absorbing a tremendous amount of carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and converting that into oxygen in the atmosphere.

"But they can also be toxic, and we need to know that, too."

St. Germain added that PACE won't just be looking at tiny organisms in the oceans. It will also study tiny particles in the atmosphere called aerosols.

"Aerosols play an enormous role in our weather, our air quality, and even our climate. They come from sources like dust flowing off the Sahara, wildfires, and even human activities, and they seed clouds that can grow into hurricanes coming across the Atlantic," St. Germain said. "But they also reflect a lot of the sun's energy. So, they play an important role in the long-term sustained stability of Earth's climate. Because we're measuring both of these things together, PACE will allow us to understand the strong interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean."

The PACE launch will also be offering something a little bit different for typical NASA Cape Canaveral liftoffs.

"PACE is the eighth NASA LSP mission to launch on a SpaceX rocket, and the first government mission to fly a polar trajectory from the Cape since November of 1960," NASA Launch Services Program (LSP) Director Tim Dunn said. "Now, SpaceX is well seasoned in flying this particular trajectory. They've done it 11 times commercially since 2020."

During the last Cape "polar launch," the blast-off of SOLRAD 2 and Transit 3A atop a Thor-Ablestar rocket on Nov. 30, 1960, a booster flew off course and rained debris over Cuba. After this, NASA's polar launches were moved to the Vandenberg Space Force, previouslyVandenberg Air Force Base.

Plus, the launch of PACE has been a long time coming. The Trump administration proposed canceling PACE in all four of its NASA budget proposals, from fiscal years 2018 through 2021, but Congress kept the mission funded each year.

The Falcon 9 rocket with PACE attached was rolled out to the launch pad and erected at around 4 a.m. EST (0900 GMT) on Monday morning. Final preparations should begin at 10 p.m. EST (0300 GMT) tonight, with propellants set to be loaded at around 12:50 a.m. EST (0450 GMT).

The PACE launch was supposed to happen early Tuesday morning (Feb. 6), but the weather didn't cooperate. There's a 60% chance of good weather for Wednesday's opportunity, according to U.S. Space Force Weather Officer Brian Cizek.

The weather issues aren't dampening spirits at NASA for this important launch, however.

PACE's "launch is not just a mission to space. It's a testament to our collective pursuit of knowledge, innovation, and the betterment of humanity for all Earthlings," Free concluded. "Go Falcon and go PACE."

You can watch the PACE launch live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA, or directlyvia the space agency's website.

Editor's note: This story was updated on Feb. 6 with news of the launch delay to Feb. 8.

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SpaceX rolls out Falcon 9 rocket to launch NASA's ocean-studying PACE satellite on Feb. 8 (photos) - Space.com

A NASA satellite is about to take flight to map out the ocean's many hues.

NASA's PACE spacecraft, which will help scientists gauge the health of oceans around the world, is set to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday (Feb. 8) at 1:33 a.m. EST (0633 GMT). Launch had been scheduled for the same time on Tuesday (Feb. 6) and Wednesday (Feb. 7), but bad weather forced a delay.

You can watch the liftoff live here at Space.com, courtesy of NASA, or directly via the space agency. Coverage will begin at 12:45 a.m. EST (0545 GMT).

Related: Earth is getting hotter at a faster rate despite pledges of government action

The Falcon 9 will deliver PACE, whose name is short for Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem, to an orbit 420 miles (677 kilometers) above Earth about 70% higher than the International Space Station flies.

From that perch, PACE will use its three science instruments "to collect data on clouds, aerosols and phytoplankton growth that can determine ocean color," NASA officials wrote in a mission update on Thursday (Feb. 1).

"Measuring the color and amount of light will help scientists better understand the types and locations of microscopic algae, which are vital to the health of Earth's oceans and its marine life," they added. "PACE will contribute to NASAs more than 20 years of global satellite observations of ocean biology and key measurements related to air quality and climate."

The 10.5-foot-long (3.2-meter-long) PACE will do this work for at least three years, if all goes according to plan.

PACE has had a long and somewhat harrowing road to the launch pad. The Trump administration tried to cancel the mission three separate times, in its budget proposals for fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020. But Congress allocated the required funds on each occasion, saving PACE from the chopping block.

Back in 2014, NASA capped PACE's total cost (including for its launch vehicle) at $805 million, with a liftoff targeted for 2022. That price tag has gone up, however, to $948 million, according to Florida Today.

PACE's launch is part of a very busy year for SpaceX. The company launched 10 orbital missions in January a single-month record, according to Elon Musk. And that impressive pace could ramp up even more: SpaceX aims to launch 144 missions in 2024, company representatives have said.

Editor's note:This story was updated on Feb. 6 with news of the launch delay to Feb. 8.

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SpaceX to launch NASA's PACE ocean-monitoring satellite this week - Space.com

By Marisa Laudadio 6:00am PST, Feb 9, 2024

3 2 1 blastoff!

NASA's PACE satellite a Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission is seen here atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Feb. 7, 2024, hours ahead of its Feb. 8 launch. The nighttime launch was a sight to behold as the clouds filled with light and the sky was illuminated just after 1:30 a.m. local time.

Keep reading to see the best photos from the blastoff and preparations on the launch pad at a Florida Space Force station

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NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

MORE: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket cargo arrives at International Space Station: All the best launch pictures

Members of the media work as NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

MORE:NASA unveils new supersonic aircraft: All the best pictures

NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft topping a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is docked on the Space Launch Complex 40 launch pad on Feb. 7, 2024, as preparations for takeoff continue at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help to better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide. In addition, it will reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft sits aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket docked on the Space Launch Complex 40 launch pad on Feb. 6, 2024, as preparations to launch in the middle of the night on Feb. 8 continue at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide. In addition, it will reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from launch pad SLC-40 at the Kennedy Space Center on NASA's PACE mission in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Feb. 8, 2024.

Data from the PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) Earth observing science mission will help NASA understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, measure key atmospheric variables associated with air quality and Earth's climate and monitor ocean health.

PACE data is also expected to benefit the economy and society, especially sectors that rely on water and air quality, fisheries and food security.

NASA's PACE spacecraft topping a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is docked on the Space Launch Complex 40 launch pad on Feb. 5, 2024, as preparations for takeoff continue at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help to better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide. In addition, it will reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, bursts out of the jumbo clouds as it lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) spacecraft stands at pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Feb. 5, 2024.

The spacecraft is equipped with instruments to assess the health of the oceans by measuring the distribution of phytoplankton, tiny plants and algae that sustain the marine food web.

NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft topping a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is docked on the Space Launch Complex 40 launch pad on Feb. 7, 2024, as preparations for takeoff continue at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help to better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide. In addition, it will reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

Check out this view of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket being launched after a two-day delay due to bad weather, carrying NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) spacecraft.

It lifted off from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 1:33 a.m. on Feb. 8, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The spacecraft is equipped with instruments to assess the health of the oceans by measuring the distribution of phytoplankton, tiny plants and algae that sustain the marine food web.

NASA's PACE spacecraft topping a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is docked on the Space Launch Complex 40 on Feb. 5, 2024, as preparations for takeoff continue at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help to better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide. In addition, it will reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA's new PACE mission: The best pictures from the launch - Wonderwall

A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule returned to Earth on Friday, wrapping up the private Axiom-3 astronaut mission that was launched nearly three weeks ago from the Kennedy Space Center.

On Wednesday, February 7, at 9:20 a.m. EST (1420 GMT), Crew Dragon spacecraft Freedom undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) over the Pacific Ocean, bringing an end to Ax-3's tenure in orbit. It then flew freely in orbit for two days before breaking through the atmosphere on Friday and making its way back to Earth over the Atlantic Ocean.

It made a successful splashdown touchdown off the coast of Daytona Beach around 8.30 am on February 9, an official statement said.

Freedom was originally scheduled to undock from the ISS on Saturday, February 3, but inclement weather in the splashdown zone caused it to be postponed by four days.

Chartered by Houston-based company Axiom Space, A-3 mission was launched on January 18 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and it reached the International Space Station (ISS) early on January 20.

Also Read: NASA turns iconic picture taken by Hubble Telescope into an interesting puzzle. Can you solve it?

The crew members include pilot Walter Villadei, a colonel in the Italian Air Force; mission specialist Alper Gezeravc, the first Turkish citizen to reach space, and mission specialist Marcus Wandt, an European Space Agency (ESA) reserve astronaut. Commander Michael Lpez-Alegra is the chief astronaut of Axiom Space and a former NASA spaceflyer.

"We've had an amazing, hectic, and enjoyable two weeks up here," Lopez-Alegra remarked at a farewell ceremony prior to the crew's undocking, Space.com reported.

I am very proud of my Ax-3 crewmates, who helped their agencies achieve all of their science objectives, technology demonstrations, as well as the outreach events.

During their stay on the ISS, the astronauts conducted over thirty scientific experiments, encompassing research in the fields of physics and space medicine.

"Data collected on ground before and after the mission as well as in flight will impact understanding of human physiology on Earth and on orbit, as well as advance scientific understanding, harness opportunities for industrial advancements, and develop technologies for humanity's progress," Axiom Space said in a mission description.

Also Read: NASA shares iconic throwback pic of astronaut who performed first untethered spacewalk 40 years ago

Astronaut Andreas Mogensen of the ESA, who is now leading the ISS' Expedition 70 mission, stated, It's been a real pleasure and honor to have you onboard the International Space Station. You guys have been great crewmates.

Being the only person to have flown aboard Dragon to orbit twice, it was the sixth spaceflight for Lpez-Alegra. Earlier, he was the part of Ax-1 mission, which flew to the ISS in April 2022.

While Villadei did make it to suborbital space with Virgin Galactic in June 2023, the other three Ax-3 astronauts had never flown in orbit before.

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SpaceX Dragon carrying Axiom-3 astronauts returns to Earth with splashdown near Daytona Beach| Watch - Hindustan Times

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with NASAs PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) spacecraft stands vertical at Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. PACE is NASAs newest earth-observing satellite that will help increase our understanding of Earths oceans, atmosphere, and climate by delivering hyperspectral observations of microscopic marine organisms called phytoplankton as well new data on clouds and aerosols. Photo credit: SpaceX

NASA and SpaceX are standing down from the Wednesday, Feb. 7, launch of the agencys Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission due to ground winds preventing prelaunch checkouts. The team is targeting liftoff at 1:33 a.m. EST Thursday, Feb. 8, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The satellite and rocket remain healthy and ready for launch.

Live launch coverage will begin on NASA+ and NASA TV public channel at 12:45 a.m. EST on Feb. 8.

Continue checking the PACE blog for additional mission updates, or join the conversation on social media by following these accounts:

X:@NASA,@NASA_LSP,@NASAKennedy,@NASAGoddard Facebook:NASA,NASAs Launch Services Program,NASAs Kennedy Space Center,NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center Instagram:@NASA,@NASAKennedy,@NASAGoddard

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Weather Delays Launch of NASAs PACE Mission PACE Mission - NASA Blogs