
VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. – Technicians begin processing NASA's IRIS spacecraft at Vandenberg where the spacecraft will be readied for launch aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket. IRIS is short for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph and the spacecraft's mission will improve our understanding of how heat and energy move through the deepest levels of the sun’s atmosphere, thereby increasing our ability to forecast space weather. Photo credit: VAFB_Tony Vauelin

VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket that will carry NASA's IRIS spacecraft is positioned for processing at Vandenberg. IRIS is short for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph and the spacecraft's mission will improve our understanding of how heat and energy move through the deepest levels of the sun’s atmosphere, thereby increasing our ability to forecast space weather. Photo credit: VAFB_Tony Vauelin

VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket that will carry NASA's IRIS spacecraft is positioned for processing at Vandenberg. IRIS is short for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph and the spacecraft's mission will improve our understanding of how heat and energy move through the deepest levels of the sun’s atmosphere, thereby increasing our ability to forecast space weather. Photo credit: VAFB_Tony Vauelin

VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. – An Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket that will carry NASA's IRIS spacecraft is positioned for processing at Vandenberg. IRIS is short for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph and the spacecraft's mission will improve our understanding of how heat and energy move through the deepest levels of the sun’s atmosphere, thereby increasing our ability to forecast space weather. Photo credit: VAFB_Tony Vauelin

VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. – Technicians begin processing NASA's IRIS spacecraft at Vandenberg where the spacecraft will be readied for launch aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket. IRIS is short for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph and the spacecraft's mission will improve our understanding of how heat and energy move through the deepest levels of the sun’s atmosphere, thereby increasing our ability to forecast space weather. Photo credit: VAFB_Tony Vauelin