Liftoff! Delta II, OCO-2 Climbing Toward Orbit

Ignition and liftoff! OCO-2’s voyage gets underway with a spectacular predawn liftoff from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The Delta II rocket is lighting the skies as it climbs out over the Pacific Ocean.

The rocket’s first stage is providing 200,000 pounds of thrust and getting an additional boost from the three solids. The first stage will burn for nearly four-and-a-half minutes before spending its fuel and separating from the rocket.