NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite is ready to explore the region where our planet’s weather and space weather meet.
The agency’s ICON satellite is set to takeoff from a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket carried by an L-1011 Stargazer aircraft from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, on Wednesday, NASA said in a press release. The 90-minute launch window will open at 9:25 p.m. EST, with a targeted launch at 9:30 p.m. EST. Live coverage will start at 9:15 p.m. EST on NASA TV and NASA’s website.
ICON is all set to launch to space! This mission will explore the ionosphere, the dynamic region where Earth’s weather 🌍 and space weather ☀️ meet — a place where changes can affect our satellites 🛰, astronauts 👩🏾🚀 and communications. 📡 https://t.co/in8tADBU6b #NASAICON pic.twitter.com/aWdb8xECya
— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) October 8, 2019
Weather will play an important role in tomorrow’s launch. Weather officials from the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing are predicting a 30 percent chance of favorable conditions for takeoff, since there is a forecast of scattered showers throughout the day. The major weather concerns for Wednesday’s launch include cumulus cloud rule and lightning rule.
“I wish I had some better news, but ultimately, we’re going to do our best with all the tools we have at our disposal to ensure that tomorrow’s launch – or potentially Thursday night’s launch – is as safe as possible,” said Will Ulrich, launch weather officer for the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing.
LIVE NOW: our @NASASun ICON mission briefing. Watch: https://t.co/6pdQPLhERr
🚀 Set for launch tomorrow, ICON will study the zone where Earth weather meets space weather — a region that plays a major role in the safety of satellites and reliability of communications signals. 📡 pic.twitter.com/IYeQqXAZU4
— NASA (@NASA) October 8, 2019
If ICON is not able to launch tomorrow due to bad weather, there is a backup launch date for Thursday, October 10 with the same launch window time as above.
Excited for tomorrow’s ICON launch? Join experts today at 1pm ET / 10am PT to dive into the science of the mission and what will happen during launch ➡️ https://t.co/U8T7pZaI5r pic.twitter.com/uGWnWNwzrW
— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) October 8, 2019
“If we go to the backup day – hopefully we don’t need to have a 24-hour delay, but should we – conditions are going to be a little better,” Ulrich added. “Thursday’s forecast shows less chance of rain, and weather conditions improve to a 60 percent chance ‘go’ for launch.”
Once ICON slips into orbit, it will analyze the frontier of space, the dynamic zone that’s located high in our atmosphere where Earth weather and space weather confront each other. This turbulent area contains neutral and charged particles that swirl in giant winds. By studying the ionosphere, NASA can see how this zone impacts astronauts, satellites, and communications.
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