SpaceX
WATCH SpaceX PACE Mission Liftoff, Booster Landing and More
February 7, 2024, SpaceX on Thursday launched NASA’s PACE mission into low-earth orbit over the reusable Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
This mission has been delayed twice over the past week due to unfavorable weather conditions near the Space Coast. However, the flight finally flew with a supporting weather condition of over 95%.
Liftoff:
The engine started as the flight director called for the go. The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage fired nine Merlin engines to generate 1.7 million pounds of thrust and take the mission into the air.
We have liftoff 🚀
Our PACE spacecraft is on its way to study microscopic organisms in our ocean and particles in the air. pic.twitter.com/SvxY1EErdx
— NASA (@NASA) February 8, 2024
Booster landing
The first stage main engine cutoff was called at around 2:19 minutes followed by booster rocket separation.
After landing maneuvers, the first stage deployed its grid fins to direct the engine to Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida through landing legs at 7:32 minutes of the mission.
The booster stage supporting this mission completed its fourth flight and was previously used for Crew-7, CRS-29, and one Starlink mission.
Mission:
Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission (PACE) is NASA’s new earth-observing satellite to collect data about Earth’s oceans, atmosphere, and climate by conducting hyperspectral observations of microscopic marine organisms called phytoplankton and new data on clouds and aerosols.
Deployment
Within two minutes of the 2dn stage engine cutoff, SpaceX deployed the PACE spacecraft at 12:30 minutes of the mission.
Separation confirmed—PACE is now flying free from its @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
We’ll be #KeepingPACE with the @NASAEarth spacecraft throughout its mission as it studies our ocean and clouds. pic.twitter.com/dhPgQSuPCM
— NASA (@NASA) February 8, 2024
You can watch the complete live stream at the broadcast link below. Note: You can skip the broadcast to mission liftoff at about 48 minutes of the video time.
Live launch coverage from Space Launch Complex 40!
Join us as we are #KeepingPACE with the launch of @NASA’s newest Earth observation mission, PACE!
Have a question about the mission? Use #AskNASA!https://t.co/6GT7oj9kbu
— NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) February 8, 2024