KSC-2010-5302

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – The first, second and third stages of the Taurus XL rocket come together in the east high bay of Building 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. In the west high bay, left, is the stage 0 motor. The rocket and NASA's Glory satellite are being prepared for a launch to low Earth orbit from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex 576-E. 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. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB