KSC-2011-6140
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The first stage of a United Launch Alliance Delta II is hoisted into place at NASA's Space Launch Complex-2 on Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Seen here in red is the Rocketdyne engine that will help loft the rocket off the pad. The rocket will carry NASA's National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite into space. NPP will be positioned 512 miles above the Earth's surface and will orbit about 16 times each day to observe nearly the entire globe. The NPP mission for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is to measure Earth's atmospheric and sea surface temperatures, humidity sounding, land and ocean biological activity, and cloud and aerosol properties. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/NPP. Photo credit: NASA/VAFB, Mark Mackley
Usage Rights
Most NASA images are in the public domain and free to use. Credit NASA as the source. Check NASA's media usage guidelines for details. Images featuring identifiable individuals may require additional permissions.
Keywords
Details
NASA ID
KSC-2011-6140
Date Created
July 20, 2011
Center
KSC
Media Type
image
Location
Vandenberg AFB, CA
Downloads
Download this image in multiple resolutions. All NASA media are free for public use.