On Saturday, a SpaceX rocket successfully launched a groundbreaking space telescope into orbit, embarking on a mission to explore the mysteries of the “dark universe” in unprecedented detail.

The European Space Agency’s observatory, named Euclid, was propelled into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 11:11 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Excited spectators at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex cheered and applauded as the Falcon 9 booster lifted Euclid into the sky, Space .com reported.

Remarkably, just eight minutes later, the first stage of the rocket effortlessly returned and landed on a drone ship stationed in the nearby Atlantic Ocean.

This successful landing showcased SpaceX’s reusable rocket technology.

Approximately 41 minutes after liftoff, the Euclid space observatory, specifically designed to study the elusive dark matter and dark energy, separated from the rocket. It is now en route to its destination: the sun-Earth Lagrange point 2.

This point is situated about 1 million miles (1.5 million km) away from Earth on the opposite side of the sun.

Lagrange points are areas of relative orbital stability where satellites can maintain their position with minimal fuel consumption.

Notably, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope also orbits at L2, making it a popular location for space missions.

Euclid’s journey to Lagrange point 2 will enable it to commence its mission of mapping and unraveling the secrets of the “dark universe,” shedding light on the enigmatic forces of dark matter and dark energy that shape our cosmos.

Written by staff