1 of 2 | Photo courtesy of European Space Agency May 28 (UPI) -- SpaceX launched a European Space Agency Earth observation satellite into orbit from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base on Tuesday to study the role of clouds and aerosols on climate and understand "our beautiful and fragile Earth so we can protect it." The Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer, or EarthCARE, blasted off promptly at 6:20 p.m.
EDT under cloudy California clouds, carrying the EarthCARE satellite that will examine clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere in an effort to "revolutionize our understanding" of how they impact Earth's climate, according to the ESA. Advertisement "Liftoff of ESA EO's EarthCARE!" SpaceX wrote in a post right after Tuesday's launch. Stage separation was confirmed just over two minutes after liftoff with dramatic video of Falcon 9's first stage falling back toward Earth.
Advertisement Stage separation confirmed pic.twitter.com/NtCpdre2te— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 28, 2024 Falcon 9's first stage landed at Vandenburg Air Force Base's.
.. Clyde Hughes , Sheri Walsh.
