NOAA’s DSCOVR spacecraft is operating on its own battery power now. It will recharge its batteries in space using solar panels.
T-10 Minutes – Terminal Countdown Under Way
The automated terminal phase of the countdown has begun. The rest of the countdown will be controlled by the computers that operate the automated sequencer. DSCOVR will be switched to its own battery power in two minutes.
‘Go’ for Terminal Countdown
The launch team is go to proceed to the terminal phase of the countdown which will be controlled by automated sequencer.
T-15 minutes and Counting
The rocket has been fueled for flight and the countdown remains on track for liftoff at 6:03 p.m. EST.
Terminal Countdown Poll Coming Up
The launch team will take a poll shortly before moving into the terminal phase of tonight’s countdown. All weather conditions and upper-level winds are go at this time and there are no technical issues in work.
DSCOVR’s EPIC Vision of Earth
One of DSCOVR’s primary abilities once it reaches deep space and is activated will be to show Earth Right Now and help detail changes occurring on the planet. One of the instruments aboard DSCOVR is the EPIC camera provided by NASA. Because DSCOVR will be in a position to see the whole sunlit side of …
DSCOVR’s Size
NOAA’s DSCOVR spacecraft is about the size of a refrigerator before its solar panels are unfolded. It measures 5.4 feet by 6 feet and weighs 1,256 pounds. It carries five instruments, three from NOAA and two from NASA.
Today’s Countdown Schedule
5:38:32 p.m. Terminal countdown poll 5:43:32 p.m. Power to DSCOVR 5:45:32 p.m. DSCOVR poll 5:48:32 p.m. Mission Director terminal countdown poll 5:50:32 p.m. Launch Conductor terminal count poll 5:50:32 p.m. SpaceX terminal count poll 5:53:32 p.m. Terminal count autosequence 5:55:32 p.m. DSCOVR to internal power 5:56:32 p.m. DSCOVR poll 5:58:32 p.m. Mission Director poll …
If Not Today . . .
If the DSCOVR launch does not occur today, the next chance will not come until Feb. 20. That is because the moon’s position in space will interfere with the spacecraft’s flight path to deep space.
Deep Space for DSCOVR
The DSCOVR mission is the first by SpaceX to deliver a spacecraft to deep space. The two-stage Falcon 9 rocket will set DSCOVR on a path to reach the L1 point about a million miles from Earth. It will take DSCOVR about 110 days to reach its destination and begins observations of Earth and the …