Inside the mobile service tower at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is joining the first half waiting in the foreground.

Inside the mobile service tower on Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the shrouded second half of the payload fairing (background) for the STEREO spacecraft is joining the first half waiting in the foreground. Both halves will later be installed around the spacecraft for protection during launch. The fairing will be moved into the clean room in the tower and later installed around the spacecraft for protection during launch. The fairing is a molded structure that fits flush with the outside surface of the Delta II upper stage booster and forms an aerodynamically smooth nose cone, protecting the spacecraft during launch and ascent. STEREO, which stands for Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, comprises two spacecraft. The STEREO mission is the first to take measurements of the sun and solar wind in 3-dimension. This new view will improve our understanding of space weather and its impact on the Earth. STEREO is expected to lift off aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket in August 2006. Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann