The DSCOVR (Deep Space Climate Observatory) spacecraft, sponsored by Al Gore for Earth monitoring mission from a Lagrange point, is to be launched by NASA on January 29 after a ten years holdup due, says "Nature", mostly to political reasons. Its EPIC viewing instrument meanwhile has been checked and repaired to avoid a Hubble-like mishap. It would be difficult to send a repair mission to a Lagrange point.
Tullio

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Interesting litle gadget! ;)

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non-profit org. Play4Life in Zagreb, Croatia, EU

I went to the NASA site to get more information on it and did not find any. Then I reread the "Nature" article and understood that it was not a NASA mission but a NOAA mission, although its launch will happen from Cape Canaveral.
Tullio

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Maybe information gleaned from this satellite can be used to help design instruments intended to be used in the search for earthlike planets around other stars.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

After reading the information on the NOAA site, I think the main purpose of this mission will be that of giving an early warning in the event of a dangerouus coronal mass ejection or flare from the Sun. The purpose of finding more exoplanets will be best served by the New Generation Transit Survey just started from the European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in Chile.
Tullio

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From what I've read, the launch will also be performed by SpaceX. Will be looking forward to seeing whether the 1st stage recovery will succeed. Stayed up all night 3 times to see the 1st attempt. Although there's nothing to see since there's no direct link to real-time video to the 1st stage while it lands. It lands over the horizon away from other ships or receivers, and no real-time satellite uplink during landing. SpaceX and Musk tweet the outcome within like 15 minutes though.

Ever heard of a Sunjammer mission (yes, it's like a novel of A.C.Clarke)?
http://www.space.com/26011-solar-sail-tech-space-exploration.html
;)

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non-profit org. Play4Life in Zagreb, Croatia, EU

Launch of DSCOVR is scheduled no earlier than February 8. NASA will launch SMAP on January 29 from Vandenberg AF Base in California and I think the Deep Space Network antennas will be busy following this launch.
Tullio

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Launching today at around 6 PM Eastern Time. I thought sunset is around 5:15 PM where I am but maybe it's a lot later closer to the equator. Supposed to have good visibility. Hoping they make the landing, but according to the mission briefing, the satellite is going to L1 orbit. So the 1st stage is going to use up a lot of fuel and it will be using less fuel to slow down or change it's descent angle, making this landing harder than the last one.

I live in central Florida and yesterday the sun set just after 6:00PM.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

US Air Force radar wasn't working properly, so the mission is delayed 24 hours. Launching around 6 PM Eastern Time again on Monday Feb. 9.

It should be launched on February 10 at 6 pm EST.
Tullio

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Launch was successful but the first stage rocket could not land on the sea platform because of high waves. and the attempt was scrubbed. But GoreSAT is on its way to L1.
Tullio

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So, landing on a platform at sea isn't such a good idea afterall if it can only be accomplished with calm seas.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.