Live at the Cape: Delta Darts Through Night Sky

A Delta II rocket is hauling a robotic NASA planet-hunter toward orbit tonight after a dazzling nighttime liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The 12-story United Launch Alliance rocket and its payload -- NASA's Kepler spacecraft -- blasted off from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 10:49 p.m. The ontime liftoff followed a flawless countdown.

The Delta II looked like a ball of white-hot fire as it rose into the night sky. A minute into flight, six of its nine solid rocket motors were jettisoned and could be seen dropping back toward the Atlantic Ocean like sparling red-orange embers.

Its three air-lit boosters ignited and burned without problem.

The first stage main engine cut off on time, and the second stage ignited and is propelling the Kepler spacecraft toward orbit.

The third stage of the Delta II is scheduled to deploy the spacecraft about 11:51 p.m. Check back to see if NASA can declare mission success.


ABOUT THE IMAGE: Click to enlarge and save the image of a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket, carrying NASA's Kepler spacecraft, as it blasts off from Launch Complex 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Photo by Carleton Bailie, ULA.