NASA极小双极卫星将研究北极和南极的五大关键点

NASA is sending twin shoebox-size climate satellites to study the Arctic and Antarctic, measuring the heat emitted into space from these polar regions. The PREFIRE mission will provide new information on how Earth's atmosphere and ice influence the amount of heat being radiated out to space, focusing on the far-infrared portion of the heat Earth emits. The data gathered will improve polar and global climate models by filling in gaps in our knowledge of Earth's energy budget, helping researchers predict future changes in heat exchange between Earth and space. These CubeSats are designed to answer critical questions using a platform that's lower-cost than a full-size satellite, and the mission is also helping to train the next generation of satellite climate scientists.