Falcon 9 • PACE

December 13, 2023 Spaceflight Now

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol Cloud Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission. The spacecraft is equipped with instruments to assess the health of the oceans by measuring the distribution of phytoplankton, tiny plants and algae. The Falcon 9 first stage booster, tail number 1081, landed back at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Delayed from Feb. 6 and 7 due to poor weather.