Small Climate Satellite Launched to Study Earth's Poles

First of Two PREFIRE Spacecraft to be Launched by Rocket Lab

The first of a pair of climate satellites designed to study heat emissions at Earth's poles for NASA is in orbit after lifting off atop Rocket Lab's Electron rocket from the company's Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand at 3:41 a.m. EDT on Saturday.

"This will improve prediction of sea ice loss, ice sheet melt, and sea level rise, creating a better un…