DSCOVR Options

[Explorer1]

Just found this while looking for spacecraft already built and just collecting dust (from the future exploration thread):
http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20121205
Looks like Triana is finally on track to actually get a ride up! No firm date though, or what modifications it may have. It's already been renamed, so the possibility exists.

[Eyesonmars]

It is not clear if a real time full color feed of earth will still be made available on the web. If it is i think it might be a PR bonanza for NASA and planetary science in general.

[Explorer1]

Yes, the technology has gotten a lot smaller and more efficient that it was ten years ago. Too bad we still know so little about the current payload.

[scalbers]

Here's an update from late last year at the link below. This is similar to the Triana concept, specifically the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) from what I hear. It also has a radiometer on it for accurate visible and IR radiation budget measurements (NISTAR). So these Earthward looking instruments will supplement the ones looking at space weather.

http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/dscovr...h/#.U1FsW2RdW9c

Additional information on the instruments can be found here:

http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/triana.htm

[Explorer1]

Early 2015 launch (finally):

http://spaceref.com/earth/dscovr-is-finall...or-liftoff.html

Has there ever been another case like this where a finished spacecraft lay in storage for so long? Even Galileo wasn't held for over a decade...

[djellison]

Whole spacecraft? No. But some of the RapidScat hardware is approaching 20 years old. It was built with the rest of the SeaWinds program in the 90's. The spare Voyager optics in Stardust and Cassini are another example.

[katodomo]

Early 2015 launch (finally):

It's an "early FY2015" launch. FY2015 started today.

SpaceX has it on its launch manifest as a payload for 2014...

[djellison]

Currently scheduled for Jan 19th.
http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html

[Dan Delany]

DSCOVR has arrived at the Cape for testing and fueling.

Launch now scheduled for Jan. 23rd.

[Dan Delany]

DSCOVR launch has been rescheduled to Feb. 8, 2015 at 23:10 GMT (6:10 pm EST). Following the launch, SpaceX will make their second attempt to land the Falcon 9 first stage on their Automated Spaceport Drone Ship, which has been named "Just Read the Instructions" by Elon. The previous attempt reportedly failed due to a shortage of hydraulic fluid, so the DSCOVR flight will carry an increased hydraulic fluid reserve so "at least it [should] explode for a different reason." I've seen speculation that they are using pressurized RP1 for hydraulic fluid, though I don't think this has been confirmed anywhere.

[Explorer1]

Recording of today's briefing.
Question at 27:00 about the Earth images and release. They will be publicly available, though with a 1 day delay.

EDIT: launch scrubbed; they'll try again tomorrow.

[scalbers]

The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) now is scheduled to launch at 6:03 p.m. EST Wednesday, Feb. 11 (after a scrub on Feb 10th due to upper level winds).

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2015/february/na...0/#.VNpJWbDF87g

Halfway down this page is more information on the EPIC, the Earth pointing camera, along with NISTAR, the radiometer.

https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal...ssions/d/dscovr

[Explorer1]

And it's up. Weather prevented a barge landing for the 1st stage though.
Next up is the escape burn and cruise to L1.

P.S. Two pages over nine years: what a speedy thread!

[djellison]

Seems like a healthy spacecraft - showed up on DSN Now pretty quick!

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[Astro0]

At CanberraDSN, DSS45(left) and DSS34 (right) at the start of tracking DSCOVR.
DSS35 (far right) is tracking Voyager 2.