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PREFIRE-2 (59881)
COSPAR: 2024-099A | Alt Name: PREFIRE 2
Image
Additional Sources
Launch Details
Launch Date
January 1, 45448
Launch Site
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Māhia, New Zealand
Launch Pad
LC-1B
Launch Vehicle
Electron
Orbital Elements
NORAD ID
59881
International Designator
2024-099A
Epoch
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 03:57:17 GMT
Apogee
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Perigee
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Inclination
97.41°
Right Ascension
55.83°
Eccentricity
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Argument of Perigee
93.49°
Period
94.66 min
Mean Motion
15.21 rev/day
Latitude
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Longitude
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Altitude
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Velocity
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Polar Plot
3D Visualization
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Basic Satellite Info
Name
PREFIRE-2
Alternative Name
PREFIRE 2
Type
Payload
Status
Operational
Owner
NASA
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Latest TLEs
1 59881U 24099A 26200.16478541 .00001769 00000+0 82096-4 0 9992
2 59881 97.4053 55.8295 0013758 93.4945 266.7864 15.21261132118994
Source: Celestrak
Summary
PREFIRE-2 is a CubeSat 6U satellite manufactured by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and owned by NASA. Launched on January 1, 2024, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand using an Electron launch vehicle, it has a mission duration of one year. The satellite measures 0.3 meters in length with a diameter of 0.2 meters and a span of 12.7 meters due to its deployable solar panels. It weighs 3 kilograms both dry and at launch. Equipped with a Thermal InfraRed Spectrometer (TIRS) as its payload, PREFIRE-2 aims to measure far-infrared radiation from Earth's polar regions to improve understanding of the Arctic and Antarctic energy budgets in relation to climate change. The satellite uses deployable solar arrays and batteries for power supply, generating approximately 4.5 W, and is three-axis stabilized.
Physical Characteristics
Length
0.3
Diameter
0.2
Span
12.7
Dry Mass
3
Launch Mass
3
Shape
Box with deployable solar panels
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Technical Details
Payload
Thermal InfraRed Spectrometer (TIRS)
Purpose
Earth observation, technology
Mission
PREFIRE-2 is part of NASA's Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment, aiming to measure far-infrared radiation emitted from Earth's polar regions to improve understanding of the Arctic and Antarctic energy budgets and their roles in climate change.
Manufacturer
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Life Expectancy
1 year
Bus
CubeSat 6U
Configuration
CubeSat (6U)
Motor
Unknown
Equipment
Thermal InfraRed Spectrometer (TIRS), a pushbroom spectrometer with 64 channels measuring mid- and far-infrared radiation from approximately 5 to 54 µm.
Power System
Deployable solar arrays and batteries providing approximately 4.5 W.
ADCS
Three-axis stabilization
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Map
Next Pass
Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)
Start Azimuth
Max Elevation
Stop Azimuth
Time Until
Pass Duration
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