Team Vandenberg launches Delta II rocket

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches from Space Launch Complex 2 here Oct. 28, 2011. The rocket carried NASA's NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite into orbit. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

Team Vandenberg launches Delta II rocket

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Vandenberg launched a Delta II rocket carrying the Aquarius/SAC-D (Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas) observatory from Space Launch Complex-2 here at 7:20 a.m. PDT Friday, June 10, 2011. The Aquarius/SAC-D observatory is a collaboration between NASA and Argentina's space agency, Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE). Aquarius is the NASA-built primary instrument on the SAC-D spacecraft, built by CONAE. Aquarius will map global changes in salinity -- the concentration of dissolved salt -- at the ocean surface. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lael Huss)

NASA WISE Delta II launch successful

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg launched a Delta II rocket Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, from Space Launch Complex 2 here. The rocket carried NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

NASA WISE Delta II launch successful

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg launched a Delta II rocket Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, from Space Launch Complex 2 here. The rocket carried NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

Heavy lifting

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- United Launch Alliance workers prepare to hoist a Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite for emplacement onto an ULA Delta II rocket. The satellite will observe the entire sky in mid-infrared wavelengths with greater sensitivity than ever before. The rocket is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-2 on Dec. 9. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mark P. Mackley)

Heavy lifting

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- United Launch Alliance workers prepare to hoist a Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite for emplacement onto an ULA Delta II rocket. The satellite will observe the entire sky in mid-infrared wavelengths with greater sensitivity than ever before. The rocket is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-2 on Dec. 9. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mark P. Mackely)

Launch preparations

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASED, Calif. -- United Luanch Alliance workers lift a solid rocket motor for emplacement on a Delta II rocket. The Delta II rocket will launch NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite, which will observe the entire sky in mid-infrared wavelengths with greater sensitivity than ever before. (Courtesy photo/Mark P. Mackley)

Launch preparations

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- United Luanch Alliance workers place a solid rocket motor on a Delta II rocket. The Delta II rocket will launch NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite, which will observe the entire sky in mid-infrared wavelengths with greater sensitivity than ever before. (Courtesy photo/Mark P. Mackley)

Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg successfully launched a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 1:24 p.m. May 5. At approximately one hour after liftoff, with confirmation of the payload's delivery into low Earth orbit, the launch was pronounced a success. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

Steady as she goes

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II Rocket fairing is moved into position March 11 at the bottom of the Main Support Tower, or MST, of a Delta II Rocket at Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket will carry the Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction, or STSS-ATRR, research and development satellite for the Missile Defense Agency. NASA will oversee the launch. The Delta II is scheduled for launch May 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mark Mackley)

Go for launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches at 2:22 a.m. February 6, 2009 from Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket carried a NOAA-N Prime polar-orbiting weather satellite for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This was Vandenberg’s first launch of 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Go for launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches at 2:22 a.m. February 6, 2009 from Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket carried a NOAA-N Prime polar-orbiting weather satellite for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This was Vandenberg’s first launch of 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)