NASA rescheduled its Falcon rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base to early Friday morning

LOMPOC, Calif. – NASA rescheduled the launch of a Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite aboard a Falcon 9 series rocket to Friday at 6:46 am from Vandenberg Space Force Base. It was originally scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 15 around 3:46 a.m.

According to NASA "Teams completed inspections of the rocket’s engines today, but will use the additional time to complete data reviews and analysis before a launch attempt."

"The SWOT mission will help researchers determine how much water Earth’s oceans, lakes, and rivers contain," according to NASA. "This will aid scientists in understanding the effects of climate change on freshwater bodies and the ocean’s ability to absorb excess heat and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide."

The reusable Falcon 9 rocket will help carry a satellite into orbit and return back to Vandenberg. The public can expect to hear loud sonic booms in the surrounding area during takeoff and when it returns.

The SWOT satellite is a joint research project between NASA and the French, Canadian and British national space agencies.

Once in orbit, the SWOT satellite will provide new and detailed imagery of water on the surface of our planet allowing researchers to monitor movement and volume changes over time for our oceans and freshwater bodies.

The booster is expected to return to earth's surface around eight minutes after launch.

NASA will livestream the launch starting at 3:00 a.m. PST, available here: www.nasa.gov/nasalive.