SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches EarthCARE Satellite, May Cause Sonic Boom in SoCal

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the European Space Agency's EarthCARE mission, an 800-million-euro project to study clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere. The spacecraft, which includes instruments from Japan's JAXA, will provide crucial data for climate and weather models. The mission faced delays and cost overruns due to technical issues, the pandemic, and a change in launch vehicles from Soyuz to Falcon 9. The launch marks ESA's continued reliance on SpaceX until the Ariane 6 and Vega C rockets are operational.