Deep Space Climate Observatory

Deep Space Climate Observatory ( DSCOVR ), or formerly Triana, is a satellite of NASA, which was proposed in 1998 by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore as Erdobservationssatellit. He should be at the L1 Lagrange point, at a distance of 1.5 million km to Earth, positioned. At this point, the probe would have a permanent view of the sunlit side of Earth.

The original purpose of the satellite was to ensure a virtually uninterrupted view of the entire globe and to make these images live on the Internet. Gore tried not only to use these images to promote science, but to also raise awareness of the earth itself and its protection. He hoped that the influence of the now renowned all over the world as a symbol Blue Marble photos, the first of which Apollo 17 was added, leave to repeat the environmental movement of the planets with the new pictures of DSCOVR.

Of the imaging camera, a radiometer should make the first direct measurement of the amount of reflected sunlight from the earth (see albedo). This data could be used to calculate the global warming. The scientific objectives ranging from the measurement of the solar energy that reaches the earth, about cloud patterns, weather systems, and vegetation monitoring to measure the amount of ultraviolet radiation that penetrates the ozone layer through to the earth's surface.

Critics derided as haphazard project, the satellite was nicknamed GoreSat. From representatives of the Republican Party, he was often referred to as " overpriced screen saver". The Congress presented a request to the National Academy of Sciences of whether the project would ever rewarding. The results from this inquiry report described the project as " strong and vital" ( strong and vital ).

DSCOVR was first called Triana and was named after Rodrigo de Triana, the crew member on Columbus' ship Pinta, which had discovered the first American country. To win, however, new support for her project, NASA has renamed the project in Deep Space Climate Observatory.

Faced with a hand politically motivated opposition as well as support from the Science DSCOVR the project could not be carried out yet set. The satellite was not, as originally planned, as part of the STS -107 mission started ( the Columbia disaster ). The 100- million dollar satellite is rather incorporated to date for a million dollars per year.

In December 2012, the company SpaceX announced that the DSCOVR satellite is launched in 2014 with the Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX, the launch is but now until at least mid- January 2015 has been postponed.

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