At Launch Complex 17 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the now-vertical second stage of the Boeing Delta II launch vehicle for the STEREO spacecraft is ready for lifting into the mobile service tower. There it will be remated with the Delta first stage. The stage has been returned to the pad after being tested for leaks in the High-Pressure Test Facility; no leak was observed. STEREO stands for Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory and 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 on Aug. 31. Photo credit: NASA/Dimitri Gerondidakis
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