Delta II rocket - ICESat and CHIPSat
Collection: NASA Kennedy Center Media Archive Collection
Description: VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. -- A Boeing Delta II rocket soars above the clouds here today at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. The NASA payload aboard the rocket are the ICESat, an Ice Cloud and land Elevation Satellite, and CHIPSat, a Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer. ICESat, a 661-pound satellite, is a benchmark satellite for the Earth Observing System that will help scientists determine if the global sea level is rising or falling. It will observe the ice sheets that blanket the Earth?s poles to determine if they are growing or shrinking. It will assist in developing an understanding of how changes in the Earth?s atmosphere and climate affect polar ice masses and global sea level. The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System is the sole instrument on the satellite. CHIPSat, a suitcase-size 131-pound satellite, will provide information about the origin, physical processes and properties of the hot gas contained in the interstellar medium. This launch marks the first Delta from Vandenberg this year. (USAF photo by: SSgt Lee A Osberry Jr.)
Release Date: 01/12/2003
Photo Number: KSC-03PD-0068
UID: SPD-KSCMA-KSC-03PD-0 068
Original url: mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=18011
SOURCE: nasaimages.org/luna/servlet/detail/nasaNAS~6~6~32401~136268
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Comments and faves
Robert Gaal, BekonTM, howvin, zzul2010, and 23 other people added this photo to their favorites.
BagOfArms (33 months ago | reply)
Fitting that this picture was posted today, considering that ICESat was successfully deorbited this morning.
outside look (2 weeks ago | reply)
... ! ! PRIMO shot !