Delta II launches STEREO

10/25/06 ~ 8:52 p.m.

A Boeing Delta II rocket sends NASA's two twin STEREO solar observatories into orbit around the sun- one leading Earth, one trailing it in its orbit- to monitor and study the sun in 3-D and provide a better understanding of solar storms. STEREO stands for Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory. This image was taken from the launch viewing pier in Jetty Park, 2.9 miles from the pad, as spectators look on.