The first half of the fairing is moved into place in the launch service tower on Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The first half of the fairing is moved into place around the NOAA-N Prime spacecraft in the launch service tower on Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The fairing is a molded structure that fits flush with the outside surface of the rocket and forms an aerodynamically smooth nose cone, protecting the spacecraft during launch and ascent. NOAA-N Prime is the latest polar-orbiting operational environmental weather satellite developed by NASA for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It is built by Lockheed Martin and similar to NOAA-N that was launched on May 20, 2005. Launch of NOAA-N Prime aboard a Delta II rocket is scheduled for Feb. 4. Photo credit: NASA