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101 media by topic ∙ page 1 of 2
This photo of Callisto, outermost of Jupiter's four Galilean satellites, was taken a few minutes after midnight (PST) Feb. 25 by Voyager 1. The distance to Callisto was 8,023,000 kilometers (4.98 million miles). The hemisphere in this picture shows a fairly uniform surface dotted with brighter spots that are up to several hundred kilometers across. Scientists believe the spots may be impact craters but higher-resolution photos will be necessary before the features can be interpreted. Callisto is about the same size as the planet Mercury--about 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles) in diameter. Callisto is less massive than Mercury, however, giving it a density less than twice that of water. Scientists believe Callisto, therefore, is composed of a mixture of rock and ice (up to about 50 percent by weight). Its surface is darker than those of the other Galilean satellites, but is still about twice as bright as Earth's Moon. This black-and-white photo was taken through a violet filter. Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages and controls the Voyager project for NASA's Office of Space Science. (JPL ref. No. P-21149) ARC-1979-A79-7027

This photo of Callisto, outermost of Jupiter's four Galilean satellite...

This photo of Callisto, outermost of Jupiter's four Galilean satellites, was taken a few minutes after midnight (PST) Feb. 25 by Voyager 1. The distance to Callisto was 8,023,000 kilometers (4.98 million miles... More

Range : 106,250,000 km. ( 66 million miles) P-22830C This, Voyager 1 image shows Saturn and three of its satellites. A series of dark and light cloud bands appears through high altitude haze in the northern hemisphere. Cosiderable structure can be seen in the rings. The Cassini division, between the A-ring and B-ring, is readily visible. The shadow of rings on the planet's disk can also be seeen. The three satellites visible are, left to right, Enceladus (off the left edge of rings), Dione (just below the planet), and Tethys (at right edge of frame). The spacecraft will make its closest approach, 124,200 km. (77,174 miles) abovr the cloud tops, at 3:45 pm PST on Nov. 12, 1980. Nine months later, in August 1981, Voyager 2 will encounter Saturn and then continue on to Uranus. ARC-1980-AC80-7000

Range : 106,250,000 km. ( 66 million miles) P-22830C This, Voyager 1 ...

Range : 106,250,000 km. ( 66 million miles) P-22830C This, Voyager 1 image shows Saturn and three of its satellites. A series of dark and light cloud bands appears through high altitude haze in the northern he... More

Range : 660,000 kilometers (400,000 miles) Time : 5:05 am PST This Voyager 1 picture of Mimas shows a large impact structure at 110 degrees W Long., located on that face of the moon which leads Mimas in its orbit. The feature, about 130 kilometers in diameter (80 miles), is more than 1/4 the diameter of the entire moon. This is a particularly interesting feature in view of its large diameter compared with the size of the satellite, and may have the largest crater diameter/satillite diameter ratio in the solar system. The crater has a raised rim and central peak, typical of large impact structures on terrestrial planets. Additional smaller craters, 15-45 kilometers in diameter, can be seen scattered across the surface, particularly alon the terminator. Mimas is one of the smaller Saturnian satellites with a low density implying its chief component is ice. ARC-1980-A80-7034

Range : 660,000 kilometers (400,000 miles) Time : 5:05 am PST This V...

Range : 660,000 kilometers (400,000 miles) Time : 5:05 am PST This Voyager 1 picture of Mimas shows a large impact structure at 110 degrees W Long., located on that face of the moon which leads Mimas in its o... More

Range : 1 million miles (1.63 million km) This image of the planet Venus was taken by NASA's Galileo spacecraft shortly befor 10pm PST when the space craft was directly above Venus' equator. This is the 66th of more than 80 Venus images Galileo was programmed to take and record during its Venus flyby. In the picture, cloud features as small as 25 miles (40 km) can be seen. Patches of waves and convective clouds are superimpposed on the swirl of the planet's broad weather patterns, marked by the dark chevron at the center. North is at the top. The several ring-shaped shadows are blemishes, not planetary features. The spacecraft imaging system has a 1500-mm, f/8.5 reflecting telescope; the exposure time was 1/40 second. The image was taken through the violet filter (0.41 micron.). It was produced by the imaging system in digital form, as a set of numbers representing the brightness perceived in each of the 640,000 picture elements defined on the solid-state plate, called a charged-coupled-device or CCD, on which the image was focused. ARC-1990-A91-2000

Range : 1 million miles (1.63 million km) This image of the planet Ve...

Range : 1 million miles (1.63 million km) This image of the planet Venus was taken by NASA's Galileo spacecraft shortly befor 10pm PST when the space craft was directly above Venus' equator. This is the 66th ... More

This image of the crescent moon was obtained by the Galileo Solid-State Imaging System, taken at 5 am PST as the spacecraft neared Earth. The image was taken through a green filter and shows the western part of the lunar near side. The smallest features visible are 8 km (5 mi) in size. Major features visible include the dark plains of Mare Imbrium in the upper part of the image, the bright crater Copernicus (100 km, 60 miles in diameter) in the centeral part, and the heavily cratered lunar highlands in the bottom of the image. The landing sides of the Apollo 12,14 and 15 missions lie within the central part of the image. Samples returned from these sites will be used to calibrate this and accompanying images taken in different colors, which will extend the knowledge of the spectral and compositional properties of the near side of the moon, seen from Earth, to the lunar far side. ARC-1990-A91-2015

This image of the crescent moon was obtained by the Galileo Solid-Stat...

This image of the crescent moon was obtained by the Galileo Solid-State Imaging System, taken at 5 am PST as the spacecraft neared Earth. The image was taken through a green filter and shows the western part o... More

This color picture of Antarctica is one part of a mosaic of pictures covering the entire polar continent taken during the hours following Galileo's historic first encounter with its home planet. The view shows the Ross Ice Shelf to the right and its border with the sea. An occasional mountain can be seen poking through the ice near the McMurdo Station. It is late spring in Antarctica, so the sun never sets on the frigid, icy continent. This picture was taken about 6:20 pm PST. From top to bottom, the frame looks across about half of Antarctica. ARC-1990-AC91-2006

This color picture of Antarctica is one part of a mosaic of pictures c...

This color picture of Antarctica is one part of a mosaic of pictures covering the entire polar continent taken during the hours following Galileo's historic first encounter with its home planet. The view shows... More

Range : 35,000 miles plus. This color image of the Simpson Desert in Australia was obtained by the Galileo spacecraft at aboaut 2:30 pm PST. The color composite was made from images taken through the red, green and violet filters. The area shown, about 280 miles wide by about 340 miles north-to-south, is southeast of Alice Springs. At lower left is Lake Eyre, a salt lake below sea level, subject to seasonal water-level fluctuations; when this image was acquired the lake was nearly dry. At lower right is the greenish Lake Blanche. Fields of linear sand dunes stretch north and east of Lake Eyre, shaped by prevailing winds from the south and showing, in different colors, the various sources and/or ages of their sands. ARC-1990-AC91-2009

Range : 35,000 miles plus. This color image of the Simpson Desert in ...

Range : 35,000 miles plus. This color image of the Simpson Desert in Australia was obtained by the Galileo spacecraft at aboaut 2:30 pm PST. The color composite was made from images taken through the red, gre... More

Range : 350,000 miles (JPL Ref: P-37329) This image of the western hemisphere of the Moon was taken through a green filter by Galileo at 9:35 am PST. In the center is the Orientale Basin, 600 miles in diameter, formed about 3.8 billion years ago by the impact of an streroid-size body. Orientale's dark center is a small mare. To the right is the lunar near side with the great, dark Oceanus Procellarum above and the small, circular, dark Mare Humorum Below. Maria are broad plains formed mostly over 3 billion years ago as vast bassaltic lava flows. To the left is the lunar far side with fewer maria, but, at lower left, the South-Pole-Aitken basin, about 1200 miles in diameter, which resemble Orientale but is much older and more weathered and battered by cratering. The intervening cratered highlands of both sides, as well as the maria, are dotted with bright, young craters. This image was 'reprojected' so as to center visibility of small features. ARC-1990-AC91-2016

Range : 350,000 miles (JPL Ref: P-37329) This image of the western he...

Range : 350,000 miles (JPL Ref: P-37329) This image of the western hemisphere of the Moon was taken through a green filter by Galileo at 9:35 am PST. In the center is the Orientale Basin, 600 miles in diamete... More

Range : 350,000 miles This image of the western hemisphere of the Moon was taken through a green filter by Galileo at 9:35 am PST. In the center is the Orientale Basin, 600 miles in diameter, formed about 3.8 billion years ago by the impact of an streroid-size body. Orientale's dark center is a small mare. To the right is the lunar near side with the great, dark Oceanus Procellarum above and the small, circular, dark Mare Humorum Below. Maria are broad plains formed mostly over 3 billion years ago as vast bassaltic lava flows. To the left is the lunar far side with fewer maria, but, at lower left, the South-Pole-Aitken basin, about 1200 miles in diameter, which resemble Orientale but is much older and more weathered and battered by cratering. The intervening cratered highlands of both sides, as well as the maria, are dotted with bright, young craters. This image was 'reprojected' so as to center visibility of small features. ARC-1990-A91-2007

Range : 350,000 miles This image of the western hemisphere of the Moo...

Range : 350,000 miles This image of the western hemisphere of the Moon was taken through a green filter by Galileo at 9:35 am PST. In the center is the Orientale Basin, 600 miles in diameter, formed about 3.8... More

ref # P-37330 Range : 1.3 million miles This color image of the Earth was obtained by the Galileo spacecraft at about 6:10 am PST. The color composite used images taken through the red, green and violet filters. South America is near the center of the picture, and the white, sunlit continent of Antarctica is below. Picturesque weather fronts are visible in the South Atlantic, lower right. This is the first frame of the Galileo Earth spin movie, a 500-frame time-lapse motion picture showing a 25-hour period of Earth's rotation and atmosphertic dynamics. ARC-1990-AC91-2008

ref # P-37330 Range : 1.3 million miles This color image of the Earth...

ref # P-37330 Range : 1.3 million miles This color image of the Earth was obtained by the Galileo spacecraft at about 6:10 am PST. The color composite used images taken through the red, green and violet filte... More

This color picture of the limb of the Earth, looking north past Antarctica, is a mosaic of 11 images taken during a ten-minute period near 5:45 p.m. PST Dec. 8, 1990, by Galileo's imaging system. Red, green and violet filters were used. The picture spans about 1,600 miles across the south polar latitudes of our planet The morning day/night terminator is toward the right. The South Pole is out of sight below the picture; the visible areas of Antarctica are those lying generally south of South America. The violet-blue envelope of Earth's atmosphere is prominent along the limb to the left. At lower left, the dark blue Amundsen Sea lies to the left of the Walgreen and Bakutis Coasts. Beyond it, Peter Island reacts with the winds to produce a striking pattern of atmosperic waves. (JPL ref. No. P-37340) ARC-1990-AC91-2017

This color picture of the limb of the Earth, looking north past Antarc...

This color picture of the limb of the Earth, looking north past Antarctica, is a mosaic of 11 images taken during a ten-minute period near 5:45 p.m. PST Dec. 8, 1990, by Galileo's imaging system. Red, green an... More

Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE)

Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE)

(October 31, 1997) A NASA SR-71 successfully completed its first flight October 31, 1997 as part of the NASA/Rocketdyne/Lockheed Martin Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) at NASA's Dryden Flight Research... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket appears to erupt from the undulating clouds of smoke below as it launches with the joint NASA/French Space Agency oceanography satellite Jason 1 and Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite aboard. Liftoff from Launch Complex 2W occurred at 7:07 a.m. PST (10:07 a.m. EST or 15:07 GMT). Jason 1 joins the orbiting Topex/Poseidon satellite to continue observations of the global climate interaction occurring between the sea and the atmosphere as a result of stored solar energy. Instruments on Jason 1 will map variations in ocean surface topography to monitor world ocean circulation, study interactions of the oceans and atmosphere, improve climate predictions and observe events like El Nino. The mission is expected to last three years. The TIMED satellite will study a little-known region above the atmosphere, some 40 to 110 miles from the Earth's surface. Studying this region has been nearly impossible until now because conventional airplanes and balloons cannot reach this high altitude, and it is too low for direct satellite measurements KSC01pd1821

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket appears to eru...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket appears to erupt from the undulating clouds of smoke below as it launches with the joint NASA/French Space Agency oceanography satellite Jason 1 and Therm... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches successfully with the joint NASA/French Space Agency oceanography satellite Jason 1 and Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite aboard. Liftoff from Launch Complex 2W occurred at 7:07 a.m. PST (10:07 a.m. EST or 15:07 GMT). Jason 1 joins the orbiting Topex/Poseidon satellite to continue observations of the global climate interaction occurring between the sea and the atmosphere as a result of stored solar energy. Instruments on Jason 1 will map variations in ocean surface topography to monitor world ocean circulation, study interactions of the oceans and atmosphere, improve climate predictions and observe events like El Nino. The mission is expected to last three years. The TIMED satellite will study a little-known region above the atmosphere, some 40 to 110 miles from the Earth's surface. Studying this region has been nearly impossible until now because conventional airplanes and balloons cannot reach this high altitude, and it is too low for direct satellite measurements KSC01pd1820

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches succe...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches successfully with the joint NASA/French Space Agency oceanography satellite Jason 1 and Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamic... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.. -- A Delta rocket leaps off Launch Complex 2W carrying the joint NASA/French Space Agency oceanography satellite Jason 1 and Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite aboard. Liftoff occurred at 7:07 a.m. PST (10:07 a.m. EST or 15:07 GMT). Jason 1 joins the orbiting Topex/Poseidon satellite to continue observations of the global climate interaction occurring between the sea and the atmosphere as a result of stored solar energy. Instruments on Jason 1 will map variations in ocean surface topography to monitor world ocean circulation, study interactions of the oceans and atmosphere, improve climate predictions and observe events like El Nino. The mission is expected to last three years. The TIMED satellite will study a little-known region above the atmosphere, some 40 to 110 miles from the Earth's surface. Studying this region has been nearly impossible until now because conventional airplanes and balloons cannot reach this high altitude, and it is too low for direct satellite measurements KSC01pd1822

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.. -- A Delta rocket leaps off Launc...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.. -- A Delta rocket leaps off Launch Complex 2W carrying the joint NASA/French Space Agency oceanography satellite Jason 1 and Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics an... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of the Delta II rocket is moved into place in the tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2037

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of the Delta II rocket is...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of the Delta II rocket is moved into place in the tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., the interstage of the Delta II rocket is ready to be lifted up the tower for mating with the first stage (seen behind it). The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2039

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2),...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., the interstage of the Delta II rocket is ready to be lifted up the tower for mating with the first stage... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers on the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., watch as the interstage of the Delta II rocket is lifted to a level where it can be mated with the first stage. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2042

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers on the launch tower on NASA's Spa...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers on the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., watch as the interstage of the Delta II rocket is lifted to a level where it... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of a Delta II rocket arrives at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2030

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of a Delta II rocket arri...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of a Delta II rocket arrives at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites i... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of the Delta II rocket is ready to be lifted up the tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2036

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of the Delta II rocket i...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of the Delta II rocket is ready to be lifted up the tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICE... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers on the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., help guide the interstage of the Delta II rocket into position for mating with the first stage. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2043

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers on the launch tower on NASA's Spa...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers on the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., help guide the interstage of the Delta II rocket into position for mating wi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers on the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., help guide the interstage of the Delta II rocket toward the first stage. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2044

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers on the launch tower on NASA's Spa...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers on the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., help guide the interstage of the Delta II rocket toward the first stage. The... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of the Delta II rocket is raised to a vertical position at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2033

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of the Delta II rocket is...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of the Delta II rocket is raised to a vertical position at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESa... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers check the lower end of the first stage of the Delta II rocket before it is lifted up the tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2034

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers check the lower end of the first...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers check the lower end of the first stage of the Delta II rocket before it is lifted up the tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. T... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., watch as the first stage of the Delta II rocket is raised to a vertical position. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2032

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., watch as the first stage of the Delta II rocket is raised to a vertical position. The rocket ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., the second stage of a Delta II rocket sits mated with the first stage. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2046

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On the launch tower on NASA's Space Launc...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., the second stage of a Delta II rocket sits mated with the first stage. The rocket wi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The interstage of the Delta II rocket arrives at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2038

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The interstage of the Delta II rocket arr...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The interstage of the Delta II rocket arrives at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites in... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers on the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., help guide the interstage of the Delta II rocket into position for mating with the first stage. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2045

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers on the launch tower on NASA's Spa...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers on the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., help guide the interstage of the Delta II rocket into position for mating wi... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - With the transporter moved from below, the first stage of the Delta II rocket is suspended in air waiting to be lifted up the tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2035

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - With the transporter moved from below, t...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - With the transporter moved from below, the first stage of the Delta II rocket is suspended in air waiting to be lifted up the tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vanden... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The interstage of the Delta II rocket is lifted up the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The interstage will eventually house the second stage and will be mated with the first stage. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2041

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The interstage of the Delta II rocket is ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The interstage of the Delta II rocket is lifted up the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The interstage will eventually house... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of the Delta II rocket is in the process of being raised to a vertical position on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2031

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of the Delta II rocket i...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The first stage of the Delta II rocket is in the process of being raised to a vertical position on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The r... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers at the base of the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., watch as the interstage of the Delta II rocket is lifted up the tower. The interstage will eventually house the second stage and will be mated with the first stage. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2040

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers at the base of the launch tower o...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Workers at the base of the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., watch as the interstage of the Delta II rocket is lifted up the ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., a solid rocket booster is lifted into an upright position for mating to a Delta II rocket. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2047

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On the launch tower on NASA's Space Launc...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., a solid rocket booster is lifted into an upright position for mating to a Delta II r... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, logo features an artist's rendition of the satellite orbiting the Earth. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. ICESat is scheduled for launch, with the Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer or CHIPSat, on a Delta II expendable launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2050

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satell...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, logo features an artist's rendition of the satellite orbiting the Earth. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., a solid rocket booster is lifted into an upright position beside the Delta II rocket to which it will be attached. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2049

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On the launch tower on NASA's Space Launc...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., a solid rocket booster is lifted into an upright position beside the Delta II rocket... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., a solid rocket booster is lifted into an upright position as preparations continue to mate it to a Delta II rocket. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11 between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2048

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On the launch tower on NASA's Space Launc...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On the launch tower on NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., a solid rocket booster is lifted into an upright position as preparations continue t... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is inserted into an interstage atop a Delta II rocket at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, is a 661-pound satellite carrying the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2062

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is inserted into an inters...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is inserted into an interstage atop a Delta II rocket at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, undergoes final processing before launch. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. ICESat is scheduled for launch, with the Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer or CHIPSat, on a Delta II expendable launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2051

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satell...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, undergoes final processing before launch. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is inserted and secured into an interstage atop a Delta II rocket at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, is a 661-pound satellite carrying the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2063

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is inserted and secured in...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is inserted and secured into an interstage atop a Delta II rocket at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The rocket will carry ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., the launch tower has been rolled back to reveal a Delta II rocket with its solid rocket boosters attached. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2057

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2),...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - At NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2), Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., the launch tower has been rolled back to reveal a Delta II rocket with its solid rocket boosters attache... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is lifted into place at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., atop a Delta II rocket. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, is a 661-pound satellite carrying the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2061

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is lifted into place at NA...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is lifted into place at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., atop a Delta II rocket. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIP... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, undergoes final processing before launch. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. ICESat is scheduled for launch, with the Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer or CHIPSat, on a Delta II expendable launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2052

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satell...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, undergoes final processing before launch. ICESat is a 661-pound satellite known as Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) ... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is lifted at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., for placement on a Delta II rocket The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, is a 661-pound satellite carrying the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2059

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is lifted at NASA's Space ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is lifted at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., for placement on a Delta II rocket The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIP... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The second stage arrives at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., for placement on a Delta II rocket The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, is a 661-pound satellite carrying the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2058

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The second stage arrives at NASA's Space ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The second stage arrives at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., for placement on a Delta II rocket The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIP... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is lifted at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., for placement atop a Delta II rocket. The rocket will carry the ICESat and CHIPSat satellites into Earth orbits. The Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite, or ICESat, is a 661-pound satellite carrying the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) that will revolutionize our understanding of ice and its role in global climate change and how we protect and understand our home planet. It will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will look at the ice sheets that blanket the Earth's poles to see if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth's atmosphere and climate effect polar ice masses and global sea level. The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. The Delta II launch is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2060

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is lifted at NASA's Space ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A second stage is lifted at NASA's Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., for placement atop a Delta II rocket. The rocket will carry the ICESat and C... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, undergoes final processing before launch. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. CHIPSat is scheduled for launch, with the Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), on a Delta II expendable launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2053

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectr...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, undergoes final processing before launch. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable informat... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, undergoes final processing before launch. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. CHIPSat is scheduled for launch, with the Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), on a Delta II expendable launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2054

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectr...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, undergoes final processing before launch. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable informat... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, undergoes final processing before launch. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. CHIPSat is scheduled for launch, with the Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), on a Delta II expendable launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2055

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectr...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, undergoes final processing before launch. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable informat... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, undergoes final processing before launch. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable information into the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This can provide important clues about the formation and evolution of galaxies since the interstellar medium literally contains the seeds of future stars. CHIPSat is scheduled for launch, with the Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), on a Delta II expendable launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Jan. 11, 2003, between 4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. PST. KSC-02pd2056

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectr...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer, or CHIPSat, undergoes final processing before launch. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide invaluable informat... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS) satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif at 4:45 p.m. PST aboard Boeing's Delta II rocket. ICESat will examine the role that ice plays in global climate change, while CHIPSat will explore the composition of our galaxy. [Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls] KSC-03pd0060

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation sat...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS) satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif at 4:45 p.m. PST... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS) satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif at 4:45 p.m. PST aboard Boeing's Delta II rocket. ICESat will examine the role that ice plays in global climate change, while CHIPSat will explore the composition of our galaxy. [Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls] KSC-03pd0059

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation sat...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS) satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif at 4:45 p.m. PST... More

NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS) satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif at 4:45 p.m. PST aboard Boeing's Delta II rocket. ICESat will examine the role that ice plays in global climate change, while CHIPS will explore the composition of our galaxy. Photo Credit: "NASA/Bill Ingalls" 03pd0060

NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot...

NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS) satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif at 4:45 p.m. PST aboard Boeing's Delta II rock... More

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS) satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif at 4:45 p.m. PST aboard Boeing's Delta II rocket. ICESat will examine the role that ice plays in global climate change, while CHIPSat will explore the composition of our galaxy. [Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls] KSC-03pd0061

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation sat...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS) satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif at 4:45 p.m. PST... More

NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS) satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif at 4:45 p.m. PST aboard Boeing's Delta II rocket. ICESat will examine the role that ice plays in global climate change, while CHIPS will explore the composition of our galaxy. Photo Credit: "NASA/Bill Ingalls" 03pd0061

NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot...

NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS) satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif at 4:45 p.m. PST aboard Boeing's Delta II rock... More

NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS) satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif at 4:45 p.m. PST aboard Boeing's Delta II rocket. ICESat will examine the role that ice plays in global climate change, while CHIPS will explore the composition of our galaxy. Photo Credit: "NASA/Bill Ingalls" 03pd0059

NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot...

NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation satellite (ICESat) and Cosmic Hot Interstellar Spectrometer (CHIPS) satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif at 4:45 p.m. PST aboard Boeing's Delta II rock... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Sciences’ Taurus XL launch vehicle for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, are transported from Building 1555 to Space Launch Complex 576-E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The OCO is an Earth-orbiting mission sponsored by NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder Program. The observatory will collect precise global measurements of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. Scientists will analyze the data returned to better understand the natural processes and human activities that regulate the abundance and distribution of this important greenhouse gas. Launch is targeted for 1:51:30 a.m. PST Feb. 24. Photo credit: VAFB KSC-2009-1654

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Scie...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Sciences’ Taurus XL launch vehicle for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, are transported from Building 1555 to Space Launch Complex 57... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Sciences’ Taurus XL launch vehicle for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, are parked under a tent at Space Launch Complex 576-E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The OCO is an Earth-orbiting mission sponsored by NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder Program. The observatory will collect precise global measurements of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. Scientists will analyze the data returned to better understand the natural processes and human activities that regulate the abundance and distribution of this important greenhouse gas. Launch is targeted for 1:51:30 a.m. PST Feb. 24. Photo credit: VAFB KSC-2009-1656

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Scie...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Sciences’ Taurus XL launch vehicle for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, are parked under a tent at Space Launch Complex 576-E at Vand... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Sciences’ Taurus XL launch vehicle for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, arrive at Space Launch Complex 576-E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The OCO is an Earth-orbiting mission sponsored by NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder Program. The observatory will collect precise global measurements of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. Scientists will analyze the data returned to better understand the natural processes and human activities that regulate the abundance and distribution of this important greenhouse gas. Launch is targeted for 1:51:30 a.m. PST Feb. 24. Photo credit: VAFB KSC-2009-1655

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Scie...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Sciences’ Taurus XL launch vehicle for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, arrive at Space Launch Complex 576-E at Vandenberg Air Force ... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Sciences’ Taurus XL launch vehicle for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, have arrived and are prepared for erection at Space Launch Complex 576-E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The OCO is an Earth-orbiting mission sponsored by NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder Program. The observatory will collect precise global measurements of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. Scientists will analyze the data returned to better understand the natural processes and human activities that regulate the abundance and distribution of this important greenhouse gas. Launch is targeted for 1:51:30 a.m. PST Feb. 24. Photo credit: VAFB KSC-2009-1658

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Scien...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Sciences’ Taurus XL launch vehicle for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, have arrived and are prepared for erection at Space Launch Com... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Workers prepare to erect Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Sciences’ Taurus XL launch vehicle for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, at Space Launch Complex 576-E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The OCO is an Earth-orbiting mission sponsored by NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder Program. The observatory will collect precise global measurements of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. Scientists will analyze the data returned to better understand the natural processes and human activities that regulate the abundance and distribution of this important greenhouse gas. Launch is targeted for 1:51:30 a.m. PST Feb. 24. Photo credit: VAFB KSC-2009-1657

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Workers prepare to erect Stages 1,...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Workers prepare to erect Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Sciences’ Taurus XL launch vehicle for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, at Space Launch Complex 576-E at Vand... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Sciences’ Taurus XL launch vehicle for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, have arrived and are prepared for lifting onto Space Launch Complex 576-E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The OCO is an Earth-orbiting mission sponsored by NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder Program. The observatory will collect precise global measurements of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. Scientists will analyze the data returned to better understand the natural processes and human activities that regulate the abundance and distribution of this important greenhouse gas. Launch is targeted for 1:51:30 a.m. PST Feb. 24. Photo credit: VAFB KSC-2009-1659

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Scien...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Stages 1, 2 and 3 of Orbital Sciences’ Taurus XL launch vehicle for NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory, or OCO, have arrived and are prepared for lifting onto Space Launch Co... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket carrying NASA's NOAA-N Prime satellite lifts off Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 2:22 a.m. PST Feb. 6, 2009. The countdown and launch were managed by Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Services Program. Built for NASA by Lockheed Martin, the satellite will improve weather forecasting and monitor the world for environmental events, as well as for distress signals for the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking System. NOAA-N Prime is the fifth and last in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s current series of five polar-orbiting satellites with improved imaging and sounding capabilities. Photo credit: NASA/Carleton Bailie, VAFB-ULA KSC-2009-1623

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The United Launch Alliance Delta ...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket carrying NASA's NOAA-N Prime satellite lifts off Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 2:22 a.m. PS... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite sits poised for launch at Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The Delta II is set for liftoff at 6:09 a.m. PST Dec. 14. WISE will scan the entire sky in infrared light, picking up the glow of hundreds of millions of objects and producing millions of images. Photo credit: Bill Hartenstein, United Launch Alliance KSC-2009-6753

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II ...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite sits poised for launch at Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Ai... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite sits poised for launch at Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The Delta II is set for liftoff at 6:09 a.m. PST Dec. 14. WISE will scan the entire sky in infrared light, picking up the glow of hundreds of millions of objects and producing millions of images. Photo credit: Bill Hartenstein, United Launch Alliance KSC-2009-6752

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II ...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite sits poised for launch at Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Ai... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite aboard streaks across the sky as it launches at 6:09 a.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This was the United Launch Alliance's 16th successful and final launch of 2009 and the 37th launch in 36 months of operation. WISE will scan the entire sky in infrared light, picking up the glow of hundreds of millions of objects and producing millions of images. Photo credit: Bill Hartenstein, United Launch Alliance KSC-2009-6756

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II ...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite aboard streaks across the sky as it launches at 6:09 a.m. PST fro... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite aboard launches at 6:09 a.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This was the United Launch Alliance's 16th successful and final launch of 2009 and the 37th launch in 36 months of operation. WISE will scan the entire sky in infrared light, picking up the glow of hundreds of millions of objects and producing millions of images. Photo credit: Bill Hartenstein, United Launch Alliance KSC-2009-6755

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II ...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite aboard launches at 6:09 a.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 2 at V... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite aboard launches at 6:09 a.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This was the United Launch Alliance's 16th successful and final launch of 2009 and the 37th launch in 36 months of operation. WISE will scan the entire sky in infrared light, picking up the glow of hundreds of millions of objects and producing millions of images. Photo credit: Bill Hartenstein, United Launch Alliance KSC-2009-6754

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II ...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite aboard launches at 6:09 a.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 2 at V... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite aboard launches at 6:09 a.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This was the United Launch Alliance's 16th successful and final launch of 2009 and the 37th launch in 36 months of operation. WISE will scan the entire sky in infrared light, picking up the glow of hundreds of millions of objects and producing millions of images. Photo credit: Bill Hartenstein, United Launch Alliance KSC-2009-6757

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II ...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite aboard launches at 6:09 a.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 2 at V... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite aboard lifts off at 6:09 a.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This was the United Launch Alliance's 16th successful and final launch of 2009 and the 37th launch in 36 months of operation. WISE will scan the entire sky in infrared light, picking up the glow of hundreds of millions of objects and producing millions of images. Photo credit: Bill Hartenstein, United Launch Alliance KSC-2009-6758

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II ...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, satellite aboard lifts off at 6:09 a.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 2 at ... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, workers unload the cargo carrier that holds one half of the fairing that will envelop NASA's Glory satellite. Both halves of the fairing will be installed around the spacecraft to protect it from the weather on the ground as well as from the atmosphere during flight. A four-stage Taurus XL rocket will carry Glory into low Earth orbit. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 2:09 a.m. PST Nov. 22. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2010-4404

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in C...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, workers unload the cargo carrier that holds one half of the fairing that will envelop NASA's Glory satellite. Both halves of the ... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, one half of the fairing that will envelop NASA's Glory satellite is surrounded by protective sheathing in VAFB's payload processing facility. Both halves of the fairing will be installed around the spacecraft to protect it from the weather on the ground as well as from the atmosphere during flight. A four-stage Taurus XL rocket will carry Glory into low Earth orbit. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 2:09 a.m. PST Nov. 22. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2010-4408

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in C...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, one half of the fairing that will envelop NASA's Glory satellite is surrounded by protective sheathing in VAFB's payload processi... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, workers cautiously roll one half of the fairing that will envelop NASA's Glory satellite into VAFB's payload processing facility. Both halves of the fairing will be installed around the spacecraft to protect it from the weather on the ground as well as from the atmosphere during flight. A four-stage Taurus XL rocket will carry Glory into low Earth orbit. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 2:09 a.m. PST Nov. 22. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2010-4406

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in C...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, workers cautiously roll one half of the fairing that will envelop NASA's Glory satellite into VAFB's payload processing facility.... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, one half of the fairing that will envelop NASA's Glory satellite is moved into a protected environment of VAFB's payload processing facility. Both halves of the fairing will be installed around the spacecraft to protect it from the weather on the ground as well as from the atmosphere during flight. A four-stage Taurus XL rocket will carry Glory into low Earth orbit. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 2:09 a.m. PST Nov. 22. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2010-4407

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in C...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, one half of the fairing that will envelop NASA's Glory satellite is moved into a protected environment of VAFB's payload processi... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, workers are preparing to unload one half of the fairing that will envelop NASA's Glory satellite. Both halves of the fairing will be installed around the spacecraft to protect it from the weather on the ground as well as from the atmosphere during flight. A four-stage Taurus XL rocket will carry Glory into low Earth orbit. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 2:09 a.m. PST Nov. 22. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2010-4403

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in C...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, workers are preparing to unload one half of the fairing that will envelop NASA's Glory satellite. Both halves of the fairing will... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, workers cautiously roll one half of the fairing that will envelop NASA's Glory satellite out of its cargo container. Both halves of the fairing will be installed around the spacecraft to protect it from the weather on the ground as well as from the atmosphere during flight. A four-stage Taurus XL rocket will carry Glory into low Earth orbit. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 2:09 a.m. PST Nov. 22. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2010-4405

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in C...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, workers cautiously roll one half of the fairing that will envelop NASA's Glory satellite out of its cargo container. Both halves ... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the payload cone for NASA's Glory mission is pictures secured inside its cargo carrier. The payload cone is an adapter that interfaces the Taurus XL rocket with the spacecraft. A four-stage Taurus XL rocket will carry Glory into low Earth orbit. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 2:09 a.m. PST Nov. 22. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2010-4411

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in C...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the payload cone for NASA's Glory mission is pictures secured inside its cargo carrier. The payload cone is an adapter that inter... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a worker user a Hyster lift moves the payload cone for NASA's Glory mission into VAFB's payload processing facility. The payload cone is an adapter that interfaces the Taurus XL rocket with the spacecraft. A four-stage Taurus XL rocket will carry Glory into low Earth orbit. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 2:09 a.m. PST Nov. 22. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2010-4412

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in C...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a worker user a Hyster lift moves the payload cone for NASA's Glory mission into VAFB's payload processing facility. The payload ... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, workers are preparing to unload a payload cone for NASA's Glory mission. The payload cone is an adapter that interfaces the Taurus XL rocket with the spacecraft. A four-stage Taurus XL rocket will carry Glory into low Earth orbit. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 2:09 a.m. PST Nov. 22. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2010-4409

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in C...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, workers are preparing to unload a payload cone for NASA's Glory mission. The payload cone is an adapter that interfaces the Tauru... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, workers are preparing to unload a payload cone for NASA's Glory mission. The payload cone is an adapter that interfaces the Taurus XL rocket with the spacecraft. A four-stage Taurus XL rocket will carry Glory into low Earth orbit. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 2:09 a.m. PST Nov. 22. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2010-4410

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in C...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, workers are preparing to unload a payload cone for NASA's Glory mission. The payload cone is an adapter that interfaces the Tauru... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the payload cone is lowered onto the floor of VAFB's payload processing facility for NASA's Glory mission. The payload cone is an adapter that interfaces the Taurus XL rocket with the spacecraft. A four-stage Taurus XL rocket will carry Glory into low Earth orbit. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 2:09 a.m. PST Nov. 22. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2010-4413

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in C...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the payload cone is lowered onto the floor of VAFB's payload processing facility for NASA's Glory mission. The payload cone is an... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers move one half of the fairing, wrapped in plastic protective covering, into a cargo container for transport from the Orbital Sciences Corp. Building 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to the Astrotech Payload Processing Facility. Once both halves of the fairing are delivered to Astrotech they will be installed around NASA's Glory satellite to protect it from the weather at the launch pad as well as from the atmosphere during flight. A four-stage Taurus XL rocket will carry Glory into low Earth orbit. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 2:09 a.m. PST Feb. 23 from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex 576-E. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2011-1081

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers move one half of the fair...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers move one half of the fairing, wrapped in plastic protective covering, into a cargo container for transport from the Orbital Sciences Corp. Building 1555 at Vandenb... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At the Orbital Sciences Corp. Building 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a crane lifts the cargo container housing one half of the fairing onto a trailer for transport to the Astrotech Payload Processing Facility. Once both halves of the fairing are delivered to Astrotech they will be installed around NASA's Glory satellite to protect it from the weather at the launch pad as well as from the atmosphere during flight. A four-stage Taurus XL rocket will carry Glory into low Earth orbit. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 2:09 a.m. PST Feb. 23 from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex 576-E. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2011-1083

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At the Orbital Sciences Corp. Bui...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At the Orbital Sciences Corp. Building 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a crane lifts the cargo container housing one half of the fairing onto a trailer for ... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The payload transporter carrying the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) is parked in the airlock of processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip which began Jan. 24 from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va. The spacecraft will be removed from the shipping container in the airlock and transferred into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After checkout and other processing activities are complete, the spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. The rocket and spacecraft then will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1148

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The payload transporter carrying ...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The payload transporter carrying the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) is parked in the airlock o... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Preparations are under way at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California to transfer NASA's newly arrived Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, into the airlock of processing facility 1555. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va., which began Jan. 24. The spacecraft will be offloaded into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After NuSTAR is removed from its shipping container, checkout and other processing activity will begin. The spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. After processing is completed, the rocket and spacecraft will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1136

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Preparations are under way at Van...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Preparations are under way at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California to transfer NASA's newly arrived Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, approaches processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va., which began Jan. 24. The spacecraft will be offloaded into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After NuSTAR is removed from its shipping container, checkout and other processing activity will begin. The spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. After processing is completed, the rocket and spacecraft will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1134

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Tele...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, approaches processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Fo... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers unwrap the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) in the airlock of processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va., which began Jan. 24. The spacecraft will be offloaded into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After NuSTAR is removed from its shipping container, checkout and other processing activity will begin. The spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. After processing is completed, the rocket and spacecraft will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1142

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers unwrap the environmentall...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers unwrap the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) in the airlock of processing facility 1555 a... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A forklift is enlisted to transfer the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) from the airlock to the high bay of processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va., which began Jan. 24. The spacecraft will be offloaded into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After NuSTAR is removed from its shipping container, checkout and other processing activity will begin. The spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. After processing is completed, the rocket and spacecraft will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1144

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A forklift is enlisted to transfe...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A forklift is enlisted to transfer the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) from the airlock to the ... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers position NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, onto a payload transporter for transfer of the telescope into the airlock of processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va., which began Jan. 24. The spacecraft will be offloaded into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After NuSTAR is removed from its shipping container, checkout and other processing activity will begin. The spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. After processing is completed, the rocket and spacecraft will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1138

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers position NASA's Nuclear S...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers position NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, onto a payload transporter for transfer... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, is delivered by tractor-trailer to processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va., which began Jan. 24. The spacecraft will be offloaded into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After NuSTAR is removed from its shipping container, checkout and other processing activity will begin. The spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. After processing is completed, the rocket and spacecraft will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1132

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Tele...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, is delivered by tractor-trailer to processing facility 1... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers position the payload transporter supporting the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) for transfer from the airlock to the high bay of processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va., which began Jan. 24. The spacecraft will be offloaded into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After NuSTAR is removed from its shipping container, checkout and other processing activity will begin. The spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. After processing is completed, the rocket and spacecraft will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1143

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers position the payload tran...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers position the payload transporter supporting the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) for tra... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, is trucked by trailer to processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va., which began Jan. 24. The spacecraft will be offloaded into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After NuSTAR is removed from its shipping container, checkout and other processing activity will begin. The spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. After processing is completed, the rocket and spacecraft will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1133

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Tele...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, is trucked by trailer to processing facility 1555 at Van... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A tractor-trailer delivers NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, to processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip which began Jan. 24 from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va. The spacecraft will be removed from the shipping container in the airlock and transferred into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After checkout and other processing activities are complete, the spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. The rocket and spacecraft then will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1145

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A tractor-trailer delivers NASA's...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A tractor-trailer delivers NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, to processing facility 1555 a... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A forklift is enlisted to transfer NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, from the tractor-trailer on which it arrived into the airlock of processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va., which began Jan. 24. The spacecraft will be offloaded into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After NuSTAR is removed from its shipping container, checkout and other processing activity will begin. The spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. After processing is completed, the rocket and spacecraft will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1137

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A forklift is enlisted to transfe...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A forklift is enlisted to transfer NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, from the tractor-trai... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers maneuver the payload transporter carrying the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) into position in the airlock of processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip which began Jan. 24 from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va. The spacecraft will be removed from the shipping container in the airlock and transferred into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After checkout and other processing activities are complete, the spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. The rocket and spacecraft then will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1147

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers maneuver the payload tran...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers maneuver the payload transporter carrying the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) into posi... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, arrives at processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va., which began Jan. 24. The spacecraft will be offloaded into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After NuSTAR is removed from its shipping container, checkout and other processing activity will begin. The spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. After processing is completed, the rocket and spacecraft will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1135

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Tele...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), enclosed in an environmentally controlled shipping container, arrives at processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Fo... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers roll the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) through the door of the airlock of processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va., which began Jan. 24. The spacecraft will be offloaded into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After NuSTAR is removed from its shipping container, checkout and other processing activity will begin. The spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. After processing is completed, the rocket and spacecraft will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1139

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers roll the environmentally ...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers roll the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) through the door of the airlock of processing ... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers roll the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) through the door of the airlock of processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip which began Jan. 24 from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va. The spacecraft will be removed from the shipping container in the airlock and transferred into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After checkout and other processing activities are complete, the spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. The rocket and spacecraft then will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1146

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers roll the environmentally ...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers roll the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) through the door of the airlock of processing ... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers position the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) in the airlock of processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va., which began Jan. 24. The spacecraft will be offloaded into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After NuSTAR is removed from its shipping container, checkout and other processing activity will begin. The spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. After processing is completed, the rocket and spacecraft will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1140

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers position the environmenta...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Workers position the environmentally controlled shipping container enclosing NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) in the airlock of processing facility 1555... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket that will carry NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) into space awaits integration with the spacecraft in the clean room of processing facility 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. The spacecraft arrived at 7:52 a.m. PST after a cross-country trip which began Jan. 24 from Orbital Sciences' manufacturing plant in Dulles, Va. The spacecraft will be removed from the shipping container in the airlock and transferred into the processing hangar, joining the Pegasus XL rocket that is set to carry it to space. After checkout and other processing activities are complete, the spacecraft will be integrated with the Pegasus in mid-February and encapsulation in the vehicle fairing will follow. The rocket and spacecraft then will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at the Pacific Ocean's Kwajalein Atoll for launch in March. The high-energy x-ray telescope will conduct a census for black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB KSC-2012-1149

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL r...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket that will carry NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) into space awaits integration with the spacecraft in the clean r... More

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Media attend a mission science briefing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in preparation for the launch of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission LDCM. From left are Rani Gran of NASA Public Affairs, LDCM project scientist Dr. Jim Irons from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, senior scientist and co-chair of the Landsat Science Team U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science EROS Center Dr. Thomas Loveland, Landsat scientist and president of Kass Green and Associates Kass Green, and senior research scientist Dr. Mike Wulder of the Landsat Science Team Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada. Launch of LDCM aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-3E is planned for Feb. 11 during a 48-minute launch window that opens at 10:02 a.m. PST, or 1:02 p.m. EST. LDCM is the eighth satellite in the Landsat Program series of Earth-observing missions and will continue the program’s critical role in monitoring, understanding and managing the resources needed for human sustainment, such as food, water and forests. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., is responsible for LDCM project management. Orbital Sciences Corp. built the LDCM satellite. NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida provides launch management. After launch and the initial checkout phase, the U. S. Geological Survey will take operational control of LDCM, and it will be renamed Landsat 8. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2013-1385

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Media attend a mission science br...

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Media attend a mission science briefing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in preparation for the launch of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission LDCM. From left are R... More

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