NASA 與 Rocket Lab 合作開展全新氣候任務
NASA Partners with Rocket Lab for New Climate Missions
Updated at: June 26, 2026 at 03:45 AM
美國國家航空暨太空總署（NASA）透過與火箭實驗室（Rocket Lab）的策略性合作，強化了對氣候科學的承諾。
NASA has strengthened its commitment to climate science through a strategic partnership with Rocket Lab.
NASA 利用以精確度與快速部署能力著稱的電子號（Electron）火箭，發射關鍵任務以監測地球不斷變化的環境。
By utilizing the Electron rocket, known for its precision and rapid deployment capabilities, NASA is launching critical missions to monitor Earth's changing environment.
這些計畫屬於「創投級專屬與共乘採購」（Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare，簡稱VADR）合約範疇，這是一項長期倡議，旨在利用美國商業發射供應商將科學酬載送入軌道。
These projects fall under the Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) contract, a long-term initiative that leverages U.S. commercial launch providers to place science payloads into orbit.
此合作關係的一大優勢，在於火箭實驗室有能力從其位於紐西蘭的「發射中心1號」（Launch Complex 1）執行具時效性的任務。
A key advantage of this partnership is Rocket Lab's ability to execute time-sensitive missions from their Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
近期的成功案例包括PREFIRE任務，該任務利用僅相隔幾天發射的兩枚立方衛星（CubeSats），分析了北極與南極的熱量流失。
Recent successes include the PREFIRE mission, which analyzed Arctic and Antarctic heat loss using two CubeSats launched just days apart.
展望未來，NASA已指定火箭實驗室執行多項即將到來的任務，例如研究高海拔熱帶冰雲的PolSIR任務，以及旨在測量太陽能量輸入的TSIS-2任務。
Looking ahead, NASA has tapped Rocket Lab for upcoming missions like PolSIR, which will study high-altitude tropical ice clouds, and TSIS-2, aimed at measuring solar energy input.
透過在需要時將小型衛星部署至特定軌道，科學家得以收集修正全球天氣與氣候模型所需的精確測量值，進而幫助我們更好地理解並預測暖化地球所帶來的影響。
By deploying smaller satellites into specific orbits exactly when needed, scientists can gather the precise measurements required to refine global weather and climate models, helping us better understand and predict the impacts of a warming planet.
