Deep Space Climate ObserVatoRy

Michael Cooney reports on the history of the Deep Space Climate ObserVatoRy (DSCOVR). The satellite will be parked in the L1 orbital position, roughly a million miles away from Earth. From this location it can provide an hour's warning of catastrophic bursts of solar radiation that could fry electronics on earth and kill unprotected astronauts.

The framework for the satellite was constructed in the 1990's for a cancelled mission, and was since re-purposed for solar surveillance. The satellite was launched for NASA/NOAA/U.S. Air Force by a SpaceX booster.

-DD