NOAA DSCOVR (Falcon 9) mission


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NOAA's DSCOVR (Deep Space Climate Observatory) just left for KSC yesterday. It's due to be launched to the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point in January by F9, a Beyond Earth Orbit (BEO) mission.

S-E L1 is about 1.5 million km out between the Earth and Sun, a solar orbit whose period equals that of Earth because of Earths gravitational influence. Being closer to the Sun it would normally orbit faster and not be in synch with Earth.

Originally conceived as "GoreSat"/Triana, just a cam showing Earths lit side for PR (Al Gore's bright idea), it's since been evolved to serve as a replacement for the Advanced Composition Explorer mission (ACE)

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Composition_Explorer

Dscovr.jpg

660px-Lagrange_points_simple.svg.png

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  • 1 month later...

Bump

Launch NET January 29, though it may slip a few days.

Confirmed that this F9 will have legs, making it very likely there'll be another ASDS landing attempt. This F9 will have 50% more hydraulic fluid, so no grid fins running dry.

Based on today's Bloomberg interview with Musk, the CRS-5 F9 grid fin hydraulics ran dry almost a minute before it reached ASDS, making its accuracy even more impressive. Its avionics package apparently did it using only gas thrusters and engine gimballing.

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Bear this in mind:

the guy in charge of Falcon 9's landing systems came from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL.)

After arriving at SpaceX he co-developed with JPL NASA's next-generation Mars entry, descent and landing (EDL) system for future landers & rovers. It increases accuracy and is smart enough to select alternate landing sites.

In short: they have a ringer, who'll also be handy when it's time to go to Mars.

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Bear this in mind:

the guy in charge of Falcon 9's landing systems came from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL.)

After arriving at SpaceX he co-developed with JPL NASA's next-generation Mars entry, descent and landing (EDL) system for future landers & rovers. It increases accuracy and is smart enough to select alternate landing sites.

In short: they have a ringer, who'll also be handy when it's time to go to Mars.

really not good idea to compare Mars landing against Earth one :) by the way, what about video of last attempt to land???

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As expected DSCOVR slipped 2 days,

Launch: NET January 31, 2015

Time: looking like ~1830 Local (Eastern)

Launch will be in the dark, but F9 will likely enter sunlight on the way up. Should look spectacular.

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  • 2 weeks later...

F9 static fire attempt today.

January 30, 2015

NASA TV Coverage Set for NOAA DSCOVR Launch Feb. 8

The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) is scheduled to launch at 6:10 p.m. EST Sunday, Feb. 8 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. A backup launch opportunity is available at 6:07 p.m. on Feb. 9, if needed.

NASA Television coverage of the launch will begin at 3:30 p.m. In addition to launch coverage, NASA TV also will air a prelaunch news conference at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7.

DSCOVR is a partnership between NOAA, NASA and the U.S. Air Force and will maintain the nation

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I'd say that's obvious. It's not just an acronym, they also consider the connotations the abbreviation gives you.

The most most obvious connotation of "DSCO" is "Disco", while "DSCOVR" makes "Discover". I'm pretty sure NASA prefers to be associated with an act of exploration, than a leisure activity.

/JPC

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Reminders,

The DSCOVR launch is Sunday Feb 8 at launch at 1810 EST. The backup opportunity is Feb. 9 at 1807 EST.

The static fire test was completed today. Waiting for data.

The ASDS Just Read the Instructions location will be 31

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Just Read the Instructions, Elsbeth III and the other tender have left port for the stage landing zone. Only 1-2 meter seas.

All Launch reviews completed, the SpaceX & NASA mission controls are prepping and the weather is 90% GO or better.

Launch viewing,

NASA TV (Chromecast by casting screen)

http://mobile.nasa.gov/content/watch-nasa-tv/

SpaceX Webcasts

SpaceX website

http://www.spacex.com/webcast/

LiveStream.SpaceX Channel

https://new.livestream.com/spacex

Youtube SpaceX Channel (Events appear day of launch)

https://youtube.com/user/spacexchannel

KSC live viewing locations, tickets etc.

https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/events/2015/february/launch-falcon9-dscovr.aspx

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From presser just now:

 

- The ASDS & support ships have arrived on location.

- There will be a higher stage1 velocity due to the L1 flight profile, so reduced chance of landing succes.

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