Updated 6:15 p.m. ET Wednesdays — The rocket launched successfully on Wednesday.
The planned barge landing of the rocket was called off because of high waves.
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A 1990s satellite that's been in storage is set to get a new life monitoring potentially dangerous emissions from the sun.
The Deep Space Climate Observatory, or DSCOVR, is scheduled to be launched by SpaceX on Monday from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch will also give the commercial space company a chance to try to accurately land its Falcon 9 rocket — a step important to the development of cost-effective reusable rockets.
The launch, originally scheduled for Sunday evening, will be SpaceX's first deep-space mission. The satellite's final orbit will take it almost a million miles from Earth.
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The originally scheduled launch was delayed due to a glitch in the Air Force's tracking radar. The next available window to launch is 6:07 p.m. ET Monday.
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According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the satellite will allow scientists to monitor solar storms that have the potential to disrupt power grids, communications systems, and GPS.
The satellite will replace an aging NASA craft, and officials hope it will be able to provide a warning of between 15 minutes to an hour before dangerous particles reach Earth.
"Our national security and economic well-being, which depend on advanced technologies, are at risk without these advanced warnings," NOAA said.
DSCOVR will watch the sun, but it originally was imagined as a way to keep an eye on the Earth by then-Vice President Al Gore.
Sometimes derisively called "GoreSat" by political opponents, the vice president hoped for a satellite that could provide inspirational images of the Earth, the New York Times reported. NASA also added instruments to measure global warming as well as measure activity on the sun.
The project was shelved in 2001, when Gore left office. After coming out of storage and a $93 million refurbishment, it's ready to finally lift off.
"It's been a long wait," Gore told the Times.
The mission will also be another chance for SpaceX to attempt to land its rocket as it hurtles back to Earth after dropping off its cargo.
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Tune in here Monday night to watch the launch.
http://www.spacex.com/webcast/
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