Tuesday's attempted launch had been postponed due to dangerously high winds. A previous attempt on Sunday to launch the Deep Space Climate Observatory for NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Air Force was also scrapped — in that instance due to last-minute radar trouble. Rain on Monday pushed the launch another day.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 05:03 pm (11:03 pm GMT) and was brought to orbit by the Falcon 9 carrier rocket.
DSCOVR will reach a point one million miles from earth to watch for geomagnetic storms that could lead to power outages on Earth. The data could give experts as much as a one-hour lead time to prepare for disruptive solar activity. The mission is expected to operate for at least five years.
The mission originally had a second purpose for SpaceX: the company was going to try to bring its Falcon9 rocket booster safely back to earth on to a platform resting in the ocean off the Florida coast, in its ongoing attempt to develop reusable rocket technology. But instead they opted for a "soft landing on the water" due to unfavorable weather conditions. Though the booster was not expected to make it through intact due to choppy seas, Musk later tweeted that he was pleased that it hit the water "nicely vertical."
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 11, 2015
Last month's attempt came close to success, but as Musk tweeted, "no cigar." The rocket's fiery crash-landing was still counted a partial success by Musk's team, and officials say Tuesday's chances of success remained no better than 50%.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 16, 2015
