KSC-2011-2194
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, one of three United Space Alliance Delta II solid rocket motors is atop a tug for the move from the solid motor facility to Space Launch Complex-2 West (SLC-2W). Scheduled to launch in June, the Delta II rocket will carry NASA's Aquarius satellite into low Earth orbit. Aquarius' mission will be to provide monthly maps of global changes in sea surface salinity. By measuring ocean salinity from space, Aquarius will provide new insights into how the massive natural exchange of freshwater between the ocean, atmosphere and sea ice influences ocean circulation, weather and climate. Also going up with the satellite are optical and thermal cameras, a microwave radiometer and the SAC-D spacecraft, which were developed with the help of institutions in Italy, France, Canada and Argentina. Photo credit: VAFB/30th Space Wing
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Details
NASA ID
KSC-2011-2194
Date Created
March 9, 2011
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Location
Vandenberg AFB, CA
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