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🗞️ Driving the news: A European-Japanese climate research satellite, EarthCARE, was successfully launched into orbit from California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to study Earth's temperature balance

🔭 The context: EarthCARE, short for Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer, is equipped with four instruments designed to analyze the roles of clouds and aerosols in reflecting solar radiation and trapping infrared radiation, crucial for understanding climate dynamics

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This satellite will provide valuable data to enhance our understanding of how clouds and aerosols influence Earth’s climate, contributing to more accurate climate models and better-informed environmental policies

⏭️ What's next: The satellite will begin its mission to gather data, while the reusable Falcon 9 first stage booster, which completed its seventh flight, has landed back at Vandenberg Space Force Base

💬 One quote: "The EarthCARE satellite lifted off from coastal Vandenberg Space Force Base atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 3:20 p.m."

📈 One stat: The EarthCARE satellite was successfully deployed approximately 10 minutes after launch

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