SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA’s new PACE mission: The best pictures from the launch – Wonderwall

By Marisa Laudadio 6:00am PST, Feb 9, 2024

3 2 1 blastoff!

NASA's PACE satellite a Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission is seen here atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Feb. 7, 2024, hours ahead of its Feb. 8 launch. The nighttime launch was a sight to behold as the clouds filled with light and the sky was illuminated just after 1:30 a.m. local time.

Keep reading to see the best photos from the blastoff and preparations on the launch pad at a Florida Space Force station

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NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

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Members of the media work as NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

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NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft topping a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is docked on the Space Launch Complex 40 launch pad on Feb. 7, 2024, as preparations for takeoff continue at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help to better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide. In addition, it will reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft sits aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket docked on the Space Launch Complex 40 launch pad on Feb. 6, 2024, as preparations to launch in the middle of the night on Feb. 8 continue at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide. In addition, it will reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from launch pad SLC-40 at the Kennedy Space Center on NASA's PACE mission in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Feb. 8, 2024.

Data from the PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) Earth observing science mission will help NASA understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, measure key atmospheric variables associated with air quality and Earth's climate and monitor ocean health.

PACE data is also expected to benefit the economy and society, especially sectors that rely on water and air quality, fisheries and food security.

NASA's PACE spacecraft topping a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is docked on the Space Launch Complex 40 launch pad on Feb. 5, 2024, as preparations for takeoff continue at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help to better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide. In addition, it will reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, bursts out of the jumbo clouds as it lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) spacecraft stands at pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Feb. 5, 2024.

The spacecraft is equipped with instruments to assess the health of the oceans by measuring the distribution of phytoplankton, tiny plants and algae that sustain the marine food web.

NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft, which is aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, lifts up from the Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Feb. 8, 2024.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide, while it will also reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

NASA's PACE spacecraft topping a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is docked on the Space Launch Complex 40 launch pad on Feb. 7, 2024, as preparations for takeoff continue at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help to better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide. In addition, it will reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

Check out this view of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket being launched after a two-day delay due to bad weather, carrying NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) spacecraft.

It lifted off from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 1:33 a.m. on Feb. 8, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The spacecraft is equipped with instruments to assess the health of the oceans by measuring the distribution of phytoplankton, tiny plants and algae that sustain the marine food web.

NASA's PACE spacecraft topping a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is docked on the Space Launch Complex 40 on Feb. 5, 2024, as preparations for takeoff continue at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

According to NASA, Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE)'s data will help to better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide. In addition, it will reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean.

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SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA's new PACE mission: The best pictures from the launch - Wonderwall