NASA has launched the first of two research satellites, part of the Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment (PREFIRE), to measure heat loss from the Arctic and Antarctica.

The shoebox-sized satellite was successfully deployed from Rocket Lab’s launch complex in Mahia, New Zealand, on Saturday at 7:42 p.m. local time.

PREFIRE aims to enhance understanding of how atmospheric elements like water vapor and clouds trap heat, which is crucial for improving climate models and predictions regarding sea levels, weather, and ice cover.

The mission includes two CubeSats with specialized heat sensors to measure far-infrared wavelengths, a significant yet previously unmeasured component of Earth’s heat radiation, CNN reported.

The second satellite’s launch date will be announced soon, and both will orbit asynchronously near the poles to gather data on short-term atmospheric phenomena.

Written by B.C. Begley