KSC-05PD-2055

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In a clean room at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, workers prepare NASA's CloudSat spacecraft (right) that will be fitted inside the lower portion of the Delta Payload Attach Fitting at left. CloudSat joins the CALIPSO spacecraft for launch. CALIPSO stands for Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation. CALIPSO and CloudSat are highly complementary satellites that will provide never-before-seen 3-D perspectives of how clouds and aerosols form, evolve, and affect weather and climate. CALIPSO and CloudSat will fly in formation with three other satellites in the A-train constellation to enhance understanding of our climate system. Launch of CALIPSO_CloudSat aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket is scheduled for 3:01 a.m. PDT Sept. 29.