Editing Deep Space Climate Observatory (section)

== Operation ==
{{multiple image|align=right|direction=vertical
| header   = An animation of Deep Space Climate Observatory's trajectory
| image1   = Animation of Deep Space Climate Observatory trajectory.gif
| caption1 = An oblique view

| image2   = Animation of Deep Space Climate Observatory trajectory viewed from the Sun.gif
| caption2 = As viewed from the Sun:
| footer   = {{legend2|magenta|Deep Space Climate Observatory}}{{·}}{{legend2|RoyalBlue|[[Earth]]}}{{·}}{{legend2|Gold|[[Moon]]}}
}}

On 6 July 2015, DSCOVR returned its first publicly released view of the entire [[Earthlight (astronomy)|sunlit side]] of Earth from {{cvt|1475207|km}} away, taken by the EPIC instrument. EPIC provides a daily series of [[Earth observation|Earth images]], enabling the first-time study of daily variations over the entire globe. The images, available 12 to 36 hours after they are made, have been posted to a dedicated web page since September 2015.<ref name="nasa20150720"/>

DSCOVR was placed in operation at the L1 [[Lagrange point]] to monitor the [[Sun]], because the constant stream of particles from the Sun (the [[solar wind]]) reaches L1 about 60 minutes before reaching Earth. DSCOVR will usually be able to provide a 15- to 60-minute warning before a surge of particles and [[magnetic field]] from a [[coronal mass ejection]] (CME) reaches Earth and creates a [[geomagnetic storm]]. DSCOVR data will also be used to improve predictions of the impact locations of a geomagnetic storm to be able to take preventative action. Electronic technologies such as satellites in [[geosynchronous orbit]] are at risk of unplanned disruptions without warnings from DSCOVR and other monitoring satellites at L1.<ref name="dscovr-about">{{cite web|url=http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/DSCOVR/|title=DSCOVR: Deep Space Climate Observatory|publisher=NOAA|access-date=July 22, 2015}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

On 16–17 July 2015, DSCOVR took a series of images showing the [[Moon]] during a [[transit (astronomy)|transit]] of Earth. The images were taken between 19:50 and 00:45 [[UTC]]. The animation was composed of [[monochrome]] images taken in different [[optical filter|color filters]] at 30-second intervals for each frame, resulting in a slight color fringing for the Moon in each finished frame. Due to its position at Sun–Earth L1, DSCOVR will always see the Moon [[lunar phase|illuminated]] and will always see its [[far side of the Moon|far side]] when it passes in front of Earth.<ref name="sfnow20150805">{{cite news |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/08/05/watch-the-moon-transit-the-earth/|title=Watch the moon transit the Earth|publisher=Spaceflight Now|first=Stephen|last=Clark|date=August 5, 2015}}</ref>

On 19 October 2015, NASA opened a new website to host near-live "[[Blue Marble]]" images taken by EPIC of Earth.<ref name="epicsite">{{cite web|url=https://epic.gsfc.nasa.gov/|title=DSCOVR: EPIC – Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera|publisher=NASA|access-date=August 30, 2019}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> Twelve images are released each day, every two hours, showcasing Earth as [[Earth's rotation|it rotates]] on its axis.<ref name="epicimages">{{cite news|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/10/19/nasa-to-post-new-blue-marble-pictures-every-day/|title=NASA to post new "blue marble" pictures every day|publisher=Spaceflight Now|first=Stephen|last=Clark|date=October 19, 2015}}</ref> The resolution of the images ranges from {{cvt|10|to|15|km|0|disp=x| per pixel (|/pixel)}}, and the short [[exposure time]]s renders points of starlight invisible.<ref name="epicimages"/>

On 27 June 2019, DSCOVR was put into [[safe mode (spacecraft)|safe mode]] due to an anomaly with the laser gyroscope of the Miniature Inertial Measurement Unit (MIMU), part of the spacecraft's [[Spacecraft attitude control|attitude control]] system.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/dscovr-spacecraft-in-safe-mode/|title=DSCOVR spacecraft in safe mode|publisher=SpaceNews|last=Foust|first=Jeff|date=July 5, 2019}}</ref> Operators programmed a software patch that allows DSCOVR to operate without a laser gyroscope, using only the star tracker for angular rate information.<ref>{{cite news|title=Software fix planned to restore DSCOVR |url=https://spacenews.com/software-fix-planned-to-restore-dscovr/|access-date=3 March 2020|publisher=SpaceNews|date=1 October 2019}}</ref> DSCOVR came out of the safe hold on 2 March 2020, and resumed normal operations.<ref>{{cite news|title=DSCOVR back in operation|url=https://spacenews.com/dscovr-back-in-operation/|publisher=SpaceNews|date=3 March 2020}}</ref>