DSCOVR

Space X’s Falcon 9 rocket has launched the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite into space from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US.

A partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Nasa and the US Air Force, the DSCOVR is designed to provide measurements of solar wind conditions, which will help in monitoring potentially harmful solar activity.

Two minutes and 44 seconds after the lift-off, the first and second stages of the Falcon 9 separated and the second stage’s Merlin Vacuum engine ignited for first burn for around a minute.

The second burn was performed after 30 minutes and 47 seconds into flight, to place the DSCOVR satellite into its parking orbit. After 35 minutes, the satellite was deployed.

DSCOVR will orbit between Earth and the sun at the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrangian point, which is 1,500,000km from Earth.

"The vehicle was nicely vertical and the data captured during this test suggests a high probability of being able to land the stage on the drone ship in better weather."

Planned to reach its final orbit around 150 days after launch, the satellite will replace Nasa’s advanced composition explorer (ACE) research satellite as primary warning system for solar magnetic storms.

After activation and check-out of the satellite, NOAA will take over the operations of DSCOVR from Nasa.

DSCOVR is carrying two Nasa Earth-observing instruments, which will monitor changes in the ozone and aerosols and Earth’s radiation.

SpaceX said that data from the launch showed the first stage successfully soft landed in the Atlantic Ocean within 10m of its target.

The company said: "The vehicle was nicely vertical and the data captured during this test suggests a high probability of being able to land the stage on the drone ship in better weather."

Image: DSCOVR will orbit between Earth and the sun at the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrangian point, which is 1,500,000km from Earth. Photo: courtesy of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation.