# Deep Space Climate Observatory

> American solar research spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q1182418](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1182418)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Space_Climate_Observatory)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/deep-space-climate-observatory

## Summary
The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) is an American solar research and Earth observation satellite positioned at the Sun-Earth Lagrangian point L1. Originally proposed by Al Gore in 1998 and launched in 2015, the spacecraft monitors solar wind and space weather to provide early warning for geomagnetic storms. It also observes the full sunlit face of Earth to study climate variables.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** February 11, 2015, at 23:03:42 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Falcon 9 v1.1 (launched from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40).
- **Location:** Operates at the L1 Earth-Sun Lagrangian point (orbit insertion achieved June 8, 2015).
- **Mass:** 570 kg (launch weight); 307 kg (dry weight).
- **Operator:** National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); initially operated by NASA until October 28, 2015.
- **Manufacturer:** Swales Aerospace.
- **Cost:** Estimated capital cost of $249 million (as of 2007).
- **Mission Successor:** Replaces the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE).
- **Aliases:** Also known as DSCOVR, Triana, and GoreSat.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of the Deep Space Climate Observatory?
A: DSCOVR serves two main purposes: observing Earth's climate (such as ozone and aerosol levels) and monitoring solar wind to predict space weather impacts on Earth.

### Q: Where is the spacecraft located?
A: The spacecraft is stationed at the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrangian point, a stable gravitational pocket approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, allowing it to maintain a constant view of both the sun and the sunlit side of Earth.

### Q: Why is DSCOVR sometimes referred to as "GoreSat"?
A: The satellite was originally conceived in 1998 by then-Vice President Al Gore (originally named Triana) to provide live views of Earth, though it was stored for years before being repurposed and launched as a space weather monitor.

### Q: What scientific instruments does DSCOVR carry?
A: The spacecraft carries three main instruments: the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC), the National Institute of Standards and Technology Advanced Radiometer (NISTAR), and a Plasma-Magnetometer.

## Why It Matters
DSCOVR plays a critical role in modern space weather forecasting and climate science. As the successor to the Advanced Composition Explorer, it provides essential data on solar wind plasma and magnetic fields, offering early warnings—sometimes up to an hour in advance—for geomagnetic storms that can disrupt power grids, telecommunications, and satellite operations.

Positioned at the gravitationally stable L1 Lagrangian point, DSCOVR occupies a unique vantage point where the gravitational forces of the Earth and Sun balance out. This location allows the satellite to continuously view the entire sunlit face of Earth, enabling unprecedented measurements of the planet's energy budget (the balance between solar energy received and energy radiated back into space) through its NISTAR instrument. Furthermore, the EPIC camera provides global imagery of Earth that is vital for monitoring ozone, aerosols, and cloud dynamics. The mission's history—conceived in 1998, placed in storage from 2001 to 2008, and finally launched in 2015—highlights the enduring scientific value of its design despite shifting political priorities.

## Notable For
- Being the first operational satellite to provide continuous monitoring of solar wind from the L1 Lagrangian point for NOAA.
- Providing the first continuous high-resolution view of the entire sunlit face of Earth from the L1 point via the EPIC camera.
- Originating as "Triana," a concept directly influenced by U.S. Vice President Al Gore in 1998.
- Surviving over a decade in storage (2001–2008) before being successfully refurbished and launched.

## Body

### Mission Development and History
The Deep Space Climate Observatory has a complex development history spanning nearly two decades.
*   **Conception:** The mission was conceived in February 1998, influenced by then-Vice President Al Gore.
*   **Construction and Delay:** Manufactured by Swales Aerospace, the spacecraft was constructed by 2000. However, political and budgetary reviews led to the project being put into storage from November 2001 to October 2008.
*   **Refurbishment:** In January 2009, efforts began to refurbish the satellite for a potential launch.
*   **Launch:** DSCOVR successfully launched on February 11, 2015, atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket (serial B1013) from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40.
*   **Operational Handover:** While NASA managed the launch and early operations (Feb 2015 – Oct 2015), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) took over operational control on October 28, 2015.

### Orbital Location and Operations
DSCOVR operates from a unique position in space known as a Lissajous orbit at the L1 Earth-Sun Lagrangian point.
*   **L1 Point:** This location is approximately 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth in the direction of the Sun.
*   **Insertion:** The spacecraft arrived at its L1 station on June 8, 2015.
*   **Orbit Type:** It orbits the Sun at the same speed as Earth, allowing it to maintain a constant position between the two bodies to monitor incoming solar wind.

### Scientific Instruments and Payload
The spacecraft carries a suite of instruments designed for both Earth science and solar physics:
*   **Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC):** A camera that provides full-disc images of Earth.
*   **National Institute of Standards and Technology Advanced Radiometer (NISTAR):** Measures the absolute irradiance of Earth to determine energy balance.
*   **Plasma-Magnetometer:** Monitors solar wind and magnetic fields to predict space weather.

### Technical Specifications
*   **Mass:** The satellite weighs 570 kg at launch and 307 kg when dry.
*   **Power:** It is powered by two solar arrays.
*   **Identification:** COSPAR ID 2015-007A; SCN 40390.
*   **Cost:** The capital cost was estimated at $249 million (United States dollars) in 2007.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites/view/dscovr)
2. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/dscovr.htm)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/al-gores-satellite-180952132/)
5. [Source](https://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0903/01dscovr/)
6. [Source](https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4236/1)
7. [Source](https://science.nasa.gov/mission/dscovr/)
8. BabelNet