Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




LAUNCH PAD
SpaceX launches deep-space weather observatory
By Kerry SHERIDAN
Miami (AFP) Feb 11, 2015


A $340 million satellite that aims to alert people to potentially dangerous solar activity and geomagnetic storms blasted off toward deep space Wednesday atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Experts say the DSCOVR -- a joint collaboration of the US Air Force, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) -- will help with the preparation and response to "space weather," thereby protecting utilities, consumers and industries.

"The Falcon takes flight, propelling the Deep Space Climate Observatory on a million mile journey to protect our planet Earth," said NASA commentator George Diller as the rocket took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 6:03 pm (2303 GMT).

DSCOVR is headed to a destination between the Earth and Sun known as Lagrangian point, or L1. The journey will take 110 days, followed by 40 days of instrument tests.

Space weather is the primary objective of the five-year mission, although the initial idea for the satellite came from former US vice president Al Gore, who dreamed of a spacecraft that would observe Earth and send back live images that would raise environmental awareness of the planet's fragility.

"It was inspiring to witness the launch," Gore said in a statement shortly afterward.

"DSCOVR has embarked on its mission to further our understanding of Earth and enable citizens and scientists alike to better understand the reality of the climate crisis and envision its solutions."

DSCOVR will replace an aging satellite, known as ACE, that is many years past its expiration date. It should provide the same accuracy as its predecessor, officials said.

Initially known as Triana, it was built in the late 1990s but the mission was canceled in 2001 by the George W Bush administration.

NASA stored the observatory in a clean room, and about seven years ago determined the equipment was still viable, said Stephen Volz, assistant administrator of the NOAA Satellite and Information Service.

The name was changed to DSCOVR and the instruments were refurbished so that it could take real-time measurements of solar wind and send data swiftly to Earth.

Its secondary mission is to collect scientific data about aerosol levels, ozone and radiation balance on Earth.

- Rocket test -

Meanwhile, California-based SpaceX said high seas off the coast of Florida had forced it to abandon another planned attempt at recycling its rocket by flying the first stage of the Falcon 9 to a controlled landing on an ocean platform, known as a drone ship.

Waves as high as three stories were crashing over the deck and one of the four engines was not working prior to launch, the company said.

"Planning a significant upgrade of the drone ship for future missions to handle literally anything," SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on Twitter.

However, it did attempt to perform a controlled landing of the first stage, steadying it before allowing it plunge into the ocean in a so-called "soft landing."

"Rocket soft landed in the ocean within 10 meters of target and nicely vertical," Musk wrote on Twitter afterward.

"High probability of good drone ship landing in non-stormy weather."

SpaceX is embarking on a series of such tests with the goal of one day making rockets as reusable as airplanes, instead of allowing them to fall to pieces into the ocean after launch.

An attempt to land the first stage on a floating barge in January was not successful. Instead of landing upright, the rocket collided with the platform and broke into pieces.

But the company said it intends to keep trying to refine the technology.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








LAUNCH PAD
Soyuz Installed at Baikonur, Expected to Launch Wednesday
Moscow (RIA Novosti) Oct 28, 2014
The Soyuz-2.1A carrier rocket has been successfully installed at the launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and is scheduled for launch on October 29, the press service of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) reported Monday. "Today, on October 27, 2014, at 4:30 am Moscow time [1:30 am GMT] the carrier rocket Soyuz 2.1A was transported from the assembly-testing comple ... read more


LAUNCH PAD
Application of laser microprobe technology to Apollo samples refines lunar impact history

NASA releases video of the far side of the Moon

US Issuing Licenses for Mineral Mining on Moon

LRO finds lunar hydrogen more abundant on Moon's pole-facing slopes

LAUNCH PAD
Scientists fail to explain strange plumes spotted on Martian surface

NASA's Curiosity Analyzing Sample of Martian Mountain

Mars Rover Nearing Marathon Achievement

NASA's Curiosity Analyzing Sample of Martian Mountain

LAUNCH PAD
Critical NASA Science Returns to Earth aboard SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft

Industry: Risk aversion costs more than 'fast failure'

45th Space Wing, SpaceX sign first-ever landing pad agreement at the Cape

Russian research team explores vision complications for astronauts

LAUNCH PAD
More Astronauts for China

China launches the FY-2 08 meteorological satellite successfully

China's Long March puts satellite in orbit on 200th launch

Countdown to China's new space programs begins

LAUNCH PAD
NASA, Space Station Partners Announce Future Mission Crew Members

Europe destroys last space truck to ISS

Camera to record doomed ATV's disintegration - from inside

ATV to bid farewell to Space Station for last time

LAUNCH PAD
SpaceX launches deep-space weather observatory

Soyuz Installed at Baikonur, Expected to Launch Wednesday

SpaceX cargo craft returns to Earth

High seas force SpaceX to ditch bid to recycle rocket

LAUNCH PAD
Scientists predict earth-like planets around most stars

"Vulcan Planets" - Inside-Out Formation of Super-Earths

Dawn ahead!

Habitable Evaporated Cores

LAUNCH PAD
Saab producing components, sub-systems for Marine Corps radar

Cosmic "Reionization" Is More Recent than Predicted

DSCOVR: Mission Success for Moog Engines Over a Decade Later

Measurement of key molecule increases accuracy of combustion models




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.