I’m interrupting my Disney blogs, to bring you news of our first rocket launch.  After several delays, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite into orbit.  This satellite was a collaboration between NASA, NOAA and the U.S. Air Force.

We have never seen any type of rocket launch before, and were very excited to have an opportunity to observe our first one, launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  We were visiting with Dan’s parents at the time, in New Smyrna Beach, which is about 25 miles north (as the crow flies) from the space center.  So our photos are a bit limited of this sunset launch.  My in-laws have seen several nighttime launches, and stated they are quite spectacular.  The space center is set to launch another rocket in March, so we are hoping it will be a nighttime launch.

If you want to see the official video of the launch, click here for the You Tube link.

These are the photos we were able to get on the beach.  It’s amazing to think that “little glow” was over 25 miles away!

The rocket will be positioned almost 1 million miles from Earth, and should reach its destination in approximately 110 days.  This satellite will be used as a solar observatory, and will replace the aging ACE satellite.

Quote for the day:  “I think we are at the dawn of a new era of commercial space exploration.”  Elon Musk (founder of SpaceX)