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Music

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A two-stage Delta II rocket is set to carry the NOAA-N Prime spacecraft into orbit,

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lifting off from Space Launch Complex 2 West at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

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Built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, NOAA-N Prime is the latest polar-orbiting satellite developed by

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NASA for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -- and the final satellite in the TIROS series.

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The spacecraft arrived at Vandenberg on November 4 aboard a C-5 aircraft and was

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taken to the Astrotech payload processing facility.

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The satellite was powered on by Lockheed Martin technicians who conducted electrical,

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communications system, and solar array illumination tests.

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The Delta II arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base in November,

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and in early December, stacking of the rocket began at Space Launch Complex 2.

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The first stage was installed into the launcher and the three solid rocket boosters were attached around the base.

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The second stage was then hoisted atop the first while the payload

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fairing was installed in the clean room within the mobile service tower.

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Technicians at the launch pad conducted mechanical, electrical and avionics system checkouts.

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In the early morning hours of January 15, the spacecraft was transported to the launch pad

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where it was installed atop the rocket's second stage, and spacecraft state-of-health checks were completed.

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In late January, the second stage was loaded with hypergolic propellants after

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the protective fairing was installed around the spacecraft.