VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the protective payload fairing that will surround NASA's Glory spacecraft arrives at the Astrotech payload processing facility. Once encapsulated, the spacecraft will be transported to Space Launch Complex 576-E and joined with the Taurus XL rocket's third stage. Once Glory reaches orbit, it will collect data on the properties of aerosols and black carbon. It also will help scientists understand how the sun's irradiance affects Earth's climate. Launch is scheduled for 5:09 a.m. EST Feb. 23. For information, visit www.nasa.gov/glory. Photo credit: NASA/Ed Henry, VAFB KSC-2011-1095