Rocket Man

This week the WISE science team had a meeting at the launch site, Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, CA, a city known for flowers, rockets and prisoners.
I got to have my picture taken standing next to our rocket, a Delta II 7320-10.

Ned Wright and WISE's rocket

This photo was taken by Tom Jarrett of the WISE science team and IPAC.

I also stopped off at Surf, CA, which is an Amtrak station that is on the beach and between South VAFB and North VAFB. Hashima Hasan of NASA HQ took the picture below:

Ned Wright at Surf, CA - 05 Nov 2009

Just to the right of my shoulder in the distance is the Astrotech Payload Processing facility where WISE is currently located, and to the left on the horizon the Mobile Service Tower at Space Launch Complex 2 can be seen. The rocket for WISE is currently inside this tower.