A SpaceX Falcon 9 is ready to launch NOAAs Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft on at 6:03 pm ET today. The launch, previously postponed from Sunday night, was postponed again Tuesday evening due to high upper-atmospheric winds. However, all conditions look green as of this writing. <\/p>\n
You can watch the launch for yourself below: <\/p>\n
The DSCOVR spacecraft will be traveling to the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrangian point, which is about 930,000 miles away from Earth. From that vantage point, the spacecraft will be transmitting imagery from both the Sun and the Earth. It will also monitor solar weather to provide advance notice of any dangerous radiation coming from the Sun that could impact communications or power systems on Earth. <\/p>\n
The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket was originally set to undergo a test whereby it would have landed on a robotic barge in the Atlantic Ocean. This test is part of SpaceXs bid to make the first stage of its rocket reusable, which if successful could shave tens of millions of dollars in cost from a typical SpaceX launch. Unfortunately, SpaceX stated today that the seas are too stormy for the barge.Instead, the company will attempt to make a soft landing of the first stage into the ocean. It does not expect to be able to recover the rocket. <\/p>\n
This launch also comes in the middle of a pretty busy week for SpaceX. Yesterday, the companys Dragon capsule departed the International Space Station, loaded with cargo to return to Earth. The capsule splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean yesterday at 7:44 p.m. <\/p>\n
The Dragon capsule departing from the International Space Station. (Credit: NASA) <\/p>\n
Additionally, the Air Force announced yesterday that SpaceX has signed a deal to lease a landing pad at Cape Canaveral in anticipation that its Falcon 9 first stages will be able to land there. Last month, the company also signed a deal with the Air Force to build a landing pad at Vandenberg Air Force base. <\/p>\n
This post was originally published on Tuesday, February 10 and updated with more information today, February 11. <\/p>\n
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SpaceX Launch Of DSCOVR Spacecraft Postponed To Wednesday<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A SpaceX Falcon 9 is ready to launch NOAAs Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft on at 6:03 pm ET today. The launch, previously postponed from Sunday night, was postponed again Tuesday evening due to high upper-atmospheric winds Continue reading