According to one of NOAA's assistant administrators, Stephen Volz, the satellite "will trigger early warnings whenever it detects a surge of energy that could cause a geomagnetic storm," which could, in turn, cause telecommunication, GPS and aviation issues, as well as power disruptions. The data it'll send back will give the agency the power to predict storms' magnitudes per region, with help from a new forecast system. DSCOVR "will soon be ready to begin its mission," project manager Al Vernacchio said, but NOAA first has to check whether all of its instruments are in working order. Once it's switched on, NASA said it will be officially known as the "first operational space weather satellite in deep space."

[Image credit: NASA]