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Deep Space Climate Obervatory

    DSCOVR’s Size

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    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.

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    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 …

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    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.

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    Deep Space for DSCOVR

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    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 …

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    Weather Forecast Remains 90 Percent ‘Go’

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    Mike McAleenan of the 45th Weather Squadron says the weather is nearly perfect at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida as we count toward the liftoff of NOAA's DSCOVR mission atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket is being fueled right now and the countdown remains on schedule for a 6:03 p.m. EST …

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    Welcome to DSCOVR’s Launch Day!

    Good evening from Florida! We are making the third launch attempt today for the DSCOVR spacecraft, an observatory that will serve the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Launch time this evening is 6:03 p.m. EST and the launch window is instantaneous. All conditions are go right now and the weather forecast calls for a 90 …

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    Fueling Under Way, Upper-Level Winds ‘Go’

    At T-2 hours, 46 minutes, SpaceX Falcon 9 fueling operations are under way at Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. There are no technical issues and there is a 90 percent chance for favorable weather at the planned liftoff time of 6:03:32 p.m. EST. Upper level winds remain "Green." …

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    Go for Tanking at T- 3 Hours

    Managers overseeing launch preparations of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and NOAA's DSCOVR have given a "go" for propellant loading. The operation is scheduled to take place at T-3 hours, about 3:03 p.m. EST. Liquid oxygen and RP-1, a rocket-grade kerosene, will be fed into separate tanks aboard each of the Falcon's two stages. Weather …

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    Upper-Level Winds ‘Go’

    Tuesday's launch attempt of NOAA's DSCOVR spacecraft aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was scrubbed because upper level winds were outside of limits established to ensure safe flight through the atmosphere. Today, data from the first weather balloon are characterized as "dramatically improved" and upper level winds currently are "Green." As on Tuesday, managers and …

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    Forecast Weather: 90 Percent ‘Go’ Today

    NOAA's DSCOVR is slated to launch today at 6:03:32 p.m. EST aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. It is an instantaneous launch window. Our continuous countdown coverage will begin at 5 p.m. on NASA Television and here on the NASA Blog. There is …

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