The second stage of a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket arrives at Space Launch Complex 2 on Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The second stage, or upper stage, of a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket arrives at Space Launch Complex 2 on Vandenberg Air Force Base in California where it will undergo preparations for launch in the Horizontal Processing Facility.

The Delta II rocket will be used to deliver NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive mission, or SMAP, into orbit. SMAP will provide global measurements of soil moisture and its freeze/thaw state. These measurements will be used to enhance understanding of processes that link the water, energy and carbon cycles, and to extend the capabilities of weather and climate prediction models. SMAP data also will be used to quantify net carbon flux in boreal landscapes and to develop improved flood prediction and drought monitoring capabilities. Launch is scheduled for November 2014. To learn more about SMAP, visit http://smap.jpl.nasa.gov. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin