<i><b>Aquarius Lifts Off!</b></i><br>
A <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_II" class="extiw" title="w:Delta II">Delta II</a> rocket launches with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAC-D" class="extiw" title="w:SAC-D">Aquarius/SAC-D</a> spacecraft payload from Space Launch Complex 2 at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandenberg_Air_Force_Base" class="extiw" title="w:Vandenberg Air Force Base">Vandenberg Air Force Base</a>, Calif. on Friday, June 10, 2011. The joint U.S./Argentinian Aquarius/Satélite de Aplicaciones Científicas (SAC)-D mission, set to launch June 10, will map the salinity at the ocean surface, information critical to improving our understanding of two major components of Earth's climate system: the water cycle and ocean circulation.
<bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q71171454" class="extiw" title="d:Q71171454"><span title="American photographer">Bill Ingalls</span></a>
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2011-06-10
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_1972.html">NASA Image of the Day</a>