SpaceX Launches EarthCARE Satellite, Potential Sonic Boom in Southern California

The Earthcare mission, a joint European-Japanese satellite project, has launched to study how clouds influence the climate. Using advanced instruments like a laser and radar, Earthcare aims to resolve uncertainties in climate models by measuring cloud behavior and their impact on Earth's energy balance. The mission, led by the European Space Agency and supported by Japan's JAXA, took 20 years to develop and will also improve weather forecasts. The satellite, nicknamed "Hakuryu" or "White Dragon," will operate for up to four years.