Context:
PACE Mission scheduled for launch in early 2024.
Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission:
- Agency – NASA
- Scheduled Launch – 2024
- Aim – Designed to measure the ocean’s colour across a spectrum from ultraviolet to shortwave infrared.
- Features –
- Armed with a powerful hyperspectral ocean colour instrument
- It will feature 2 polarimeters – Spectro-polarimeter for Planetary Exploration (SPEXone) andHyper Angular Research Polarimeter (HARP2).
- Functions –
- Analysing the types, distribution, and interactions of Aerosols with sunlight
- Study how oceans function and respond to environmental changes.
- Significance – Expected to make significant breakthroughs in aerosol-cloud-ocean research through its synergistic payload.
Aerosols:
- Composition -Tiny particles like smoke, dust, and pollutants
- Significance – Play a crucial role in influencing our climate.
- Aerosols absorb and scatter sunlight, determining the amount of solar energy reaching Earth’s surface.
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the “Fractional Orbital Bombardment System” often talked about in the media?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space.
(b) A spacecraft lands on another planet after making several orbital motions.
(c) A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth
(d) A spacecraft moves along a comet with the same speed and places a probe on its surface.
Answer: (c)
