OCO (Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 and 3)

NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 is in great condition following liftoff earlier today from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, and is ready to begin a checkout process before it starts its work of measuring and mapping carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere. "We have a healthy observatory," said Ralph Basilio, the OCO-2 project manager from NASA's …

A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket carrying NASA's OCO-2 spacecraft rises from the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The photo was taken by NASA photographer Bill Ingalls.

NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 is in orbit this morning following a flawless countdown and ascent aboard the United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California was right on time at 2:56 a.m. PDT/5:56 a.m. EDT. This brings live coverage to an end. There will …

The observatory's solar arrays have deployed and are power positive according to NASA Launch Manager TIm Dunn. "All very good news," Dunn said. The Delta II "performed like a champ" throughout the countdown and ascent, he added. "There was pure joy in the Mission Director's Center at spacecraft sep, I can tell you that," Dunn …

Onboard cameras captured the separation of the OCO-2 spacecraft from the Delta II second stage:

Data from the spacecraft is flowing through the space-based Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.

NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 is flying solo after its successful separation from the Delta II rocket's second stage. In the next three minutes, the spacecraft will stabilize itself and begin deploying its solar arrays.

Second-stage engine cutoff-2 is complete! The rocket is moving into position to release OCO-2.

Restart! The second-stage engine is burning for the final time. This is a short pulse lasting only 12 seconds.