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 PACEPlankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystemactive MissionArtist's concept of PACE spacecraftPACE will help us better understand our ocean and atmosphere by measuring key variables associated with cloud formation, particles and pollutants in the air, and microscopic, floating marine life (phytoplankton). These observations will help us better monitor ocean health, air quality, and climate change.TypeOrbiterLaunch2024TargetEarthObjectiveStudy the health of Earth's climate and oceanLearn more about PACEPACE StoriesExplore All PACE StoriesArticle3 min readPACE Celebrates National Ocean Month With Colorful Views of the PlanetArticle4 min readNASA’s ORCA, AirHARP Projects Paved Way for PACE to Reach Space4 min readNASA’s Near Space Network Enables PACE Climate Mission to ‘Phone Home’Article2 months agomin readNASA Invites Media for Climate Update, New Earth MissionsNews Release6 min readKate A. McGinnis: Ready to “Go” with PACE TestingArticle2 months agoPACE and Climate ChangeLaunching in February 2024, NASA’s newest Earth-observing satellite, called PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem), will help us better understand how climate change is affecting blooms of ocean phytoplankton. PACE will also help decipher how particles in the air (like dust and smoke) can influence cloud formation and the warming and cooling of the planet.Learn MoreAn aerial view of a portion of the planet shows white, wispy cloud coverage over both land and ocean. Clouds are seen in the bottom left corner extending up towards the top left corner but dwindling as it rises. Clouds are also seen in the top right corner. A green colored land mass is seen along the bottom third of the image. There are some islands off the coast of the land as well. In the dark blue ocean, are vibrant swirls of teal and green phytoplankton blooms.During the spring and summer in the Barents Sea, north of Norway and Russia, blue and green blooms of phytoplankton are often visible. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image on July 15, 2021.NASA Earth ObservatoryPACE Mission VideosOcean Color Countdown with PACEWe explore just five different ocean colors around the globe and find out what those colors tell us.Watch NowAerosols on EarthA Sea of Data: The PACE MissionHow PACE will take Earth's pulse in new ways for decades to come.Watch NowClouds over the southern Indian Ocean. This image was acquired by one of the northward-viewing cameras of the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument on NASA's polar-orbiting Terra spacecraft. Credit: NASAPACE's Instruments Reveal a New Dimension of Atmospheric InfoPACE enables NASA to learn more about the characteristics of aerosol and cloud interactions in Earth's systems.Watch NowEastern Equatorial Pacific phytoplanktonThe Insanely Important World of PhytoplanktonIvona Cetinić, the Science Lead for Ocean Biogeochemistry for PACE describes the weird, wonderful, and important world of phytoplankton.Watch Now9 people smiling on a Zoom call.PACE: Persistence and Perseverance Despite PandemicHow the PACE development teams overcame social distancing challenges to realize this extremely important research initiative.Watch Nowslide 2 - The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite sits in front of a testing chamberPACE Mission Enlists the U.S. Marine BandThe PACE mission nears the end of its environmental testing with acoustic fanfare.Watch NowImage of the Woolsey Fire burning along the Southern California coastlineTracking Carbon from Wildfires to Ocean BloomsPACE will examine connections between these major wildfires and the subsequent explosion of phytoplankton production.Watch NowA new NASA study found that variations in cloud cover sharply delineated the boundaries of ecological biomes relevant to many unique species.SPEXone: Dutch Instrument Arrives for PACE MissionScientists seek detailed data from PACE to properly characterize the amount of radiative forcing that aerosols cause.Watch NowOther Mission ResourcesFrank Cutler, NASA Armstrong's Global Hawk project manager, talks to media about the Global Hawk and its current mission. Credit: NASA Photo/Ken Ulbrich.PACE Mission Blog - Mission Updates and Staff ProfilesThe detailed updates on all things PACE.Which Phytoplankton are You?Answer four questions to discover which of these diverse organisms is most like you!Phytoplankton ExplorationPACE will show all chlorophyll is not created equal.a pulled back view of a Kennedy Space Center launch pad with rocket lifting off against a clear blue sky with smoke plume spreading beyond the pad.PACE Storymap GalleryThe stories that drive PACE.Alvin Smith in bunny suitPACE Image GalleryA look behind the scenes.Keep ExploringDiscover More Topics From NASAEarthClimate ChangeScience crew members retrieve a canister from melt ponds on the Arctic Ocean.Air QualityEarth Science in ActionEarth Action
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