Triana (satellite)

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Deep Space Climate Observatory.

Image of Earth from Space. Galileo spacecraft, December 11, 1990

Triana is a NASA satellite proposed in 1998 by then-Vice President Al Gore for the purpose of earth observation. It is intended to be positioned at the Earth's L₁ Lagrangian point, at a distance of 1.5 million kilometers. At this location it will have a continuous view of the Sun-lit side of the Earth.

The satellite's original purpose was to provide a near continuous view of the entire Earth and make that live image available via the Internet. Gore hoped not only to advance science with these images, but also to raise awareness of the Earth itself, updating the influential The Blue Marble photograph taken by Apollo 17.

In addition to an imaging camera, a radiometer would take the first direct measurements of how much sunlight is reflected and emitted from the whole Earth. This data could constitute a barometer for the process of Global Warming. The scientific goals expanded to measure the amount of solar energy reaching Earth, cloud patterns, weather systems, monitor the health of Earth's vegetation, and track the amount of UV light reaching the surface through the ozone layer.

Derided by critics as being an unfocused project, the satellite was nicknamed GoreSat, and was often referred to as an "overpriced screen saver" by Republicans. Congress asked the National Academy of Sciences whether the project was worthwhile. The resulting report stated that the mission was "strong and vital."[1]

Triana was named after Rodrigo de Triana, the first of Columbus's crew to sight land in the Americas. NASA renamed the satellite Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), in an attempt to regain support for the project.

Faced with political hostility on one side and scientific support on the other, Triana could neither be launched nor could it be terminated. Triana was removed from its original launch opportunity on STS-107 (the ill-fated Columbia disaster mission). The $100 million satellite remains in storage at a cost of $1 million a year.