Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate

Advancing Ocean and Atmospheric Science

Goddard Space Flight Center’s PACE team at KSC Launch Complex 40
Goddard Space Flight Center’s PACE team at KSC Launch Complex 40

A Crucial Phase in Advancing Ocean and Atmospheric Science

NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission, was designed, developed, integrated & tested by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC).  PACE was launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida on February 8, 2024, extending and improving NASA’s over 20-year record of satellite observations of global ocean biology, aerosols (tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere), and clouds. PACE will advance the assessment of ocean health by measuring the distribution of phytoplankton, tiny plants and algae that sustain the marine food web. It will also continue systematic records of key atmospheric variables associated with air quality and earth’s climate.

The Software Engineering Division (Code 580) made significant contributions to multiple areas of the PACE mission. An engineering team from NASA Code 580 supported the design, development, integration & test of PACE.  John Ong (Code 581) is on the Systems Engineering team, providing software and data systems guidance for the PACE observatory.  Robert Schweiss (Code 581) is the Ground Systems Manager, overseeing the developing of the PACE Ground System, including the PACE Mission Operations Center, located at GSFC.  Mike Blau (Code 582), is the S/C Flight Software (FSW) lead, overseeing the development of S/C FSW.  Dan Berry (Code 580) and Keegan Moore (Code 582) are the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) FSW leads, overseeing the development of the OCI FSW.

NASA and SpaceX technicians encapsulate NASA's PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) spacecraft in SpaceX’s Falcon 9 payload fairings on Jan. 30, 2024, at the Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Image credit: NASA/SpaceX
NASA and SpaceX technicians encapsulate NASA’s PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) spacecraft in SpaceX’s Falcon 9 payload fairings on Jan. 30, 2024, at the Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Image credit: NASA/SpaceX

At the heart of the PACE Observatory lies a suite of instruments meticulously designed to capture the complexities of Earth’s oceans and atmosphere. The Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), developed and integrated at GSFC, serves as the mission’s primary instrument. Utilizing hyper-spectral scanning radiometry, the OCI will capture spectral radiances across a wide spectrum, enabling advanced ocean color studies and enhancing our understanding of cloud and aerosol dynamics. Alongside OCI are two secondary instruments: the HyperAngular Rainbow Polarimeter 2 (HARP2) and the SpectroPolarimeter for Exploration (SPEXone), each acquired to complement PACE’s scientific objectives.

The Integration and Testing phase encompasses a myriad of activities aimed at ensuring the seamless operation of the PACE Observatory. Mechanical, electrical, and thermal integration and testing of spacecraft subsystems are conducted rigorously to guarantee functionality under the extreme conditions of space. Moreover, the integration of instruments with the spacecraft is a critical aspect of this phase, requiring precision and attention to detail.

The ground systems (GS) and associated Mission Operations Center (MOC) will be developed, integrated, and operated at GSFC. Then GS provides for the command and control and health and safety monitoring of the PACE observatory on-orbit, as well as ensuring the science data are accounted for and delivered to the SDS. The MOC will contain the flight operations team (FOT) and will be managed by the PACE project through observatory commissioning. After commissioning, the FOT will be managed by the GSFC Earth Science Mission Operations (ESMO) office. The MOC performs all real time operations and off-line operations functions, including planning and scheduling, orbit and attitude analysis, housekeeping telemetry data processing, monitoring, managing the spacecraft and instruments, first line health/safety for the instruments, and housekeeping archiving and analysis.

Additionally, this work sheds light on the logistical intricacies involved in shipping the PACE Observatory to the launch site and the subsequent launch site processing. These phases mark the culmination of years of planning and preparation, bringing the PACE Mission one step closer to its goal of advancing our understanding of ocean health and atmospheric dynamics.

The Integration and Testing phase of the PACE Mission represents a critical milestone in the journey towards unlocking the mysteries of Earth’s oceans and atmosphere. Through meticulous planning, rigorous testing, and unwavering dedication, the PACE Mission stands poised to usher in a new era of environmental monitoring and scientific discovery.

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