The PREFIRE mission comprises two space-based Thermal InfraRed Spectrometers (TIRS) aboard two small 6U cube-shaped satellites known as CubeSats. TIRS is a grating spectrometer with a slit projection on the ground aligned cross-track to the satellite motion - a so-called “push broom” configuration. The instrument contains a 2-dimensional focal plane array detector with one dimension aligned cross-track, parallel to the slit (spatial), and the other dimension containing the spectral information from the scene, perpendicular to the slit. PREFIRE CubeSats join a fleet of Earth observation satellites operated by NASA and other space agencies. By synergizing with existing satellite missions, such as the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), PREFIRE CubeSats enhance the overall understanding of polar climate processes that have global implications for severe weather frequency and coastal resilience. This integration ensures decision-makers can access accurate sea-level rise and storm preparedness projections.

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