A Delta II rocket carrying a NASA satellite lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 6:22 a.m. Saturday.
The rocket was scheduled to launch on Thursday but was rescheduled twice due to high winds.
The Delta II rocket carried NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive satellite into orbit. The satellite is expected to provide the most accurate and highest-resolution soil moisture maps ever, which can help improve short-term weather forecasts, long-term climate change analysis, and improve drought and flood monitoring and mitigation, among other applications.
30th Space Wing vice commander Col. Shane Clark, who was the launch decision authority, said, "Congratulations to the 30th Space Wing, NASA, United Launch Alliance and all our other mission partners for ensuring a safe and successful mission"
He continued, "This is the first of 10 launch missions we have scheduled for 2015. Each and every success is testament to the dedicated men and women supporting activities on the Western Range. I'm very proud of our team and mission partners."
The launch is the first this year at VAFB.
