PIA12479: WISE Snug in its Nose Cone
NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer is shown inside one-half of the nose cone, or fairing, that will protect it during launch.
 Mission:  Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) 
 Product Size:  625 x 1011 pixels (w x h) 
 Produced By:  JPL 
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA12479.tif (1.898 MB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA12479.jpg (117.9 kB)  

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Original Caption Released with Image:

NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) is shown inside one-half of the nose cone, or fairing, that will protect it during launch. The spacecraft is clamped to the top of the rocket above the white conical fitting. The fairing will split open like a clamshell about five minutes after launch.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL-Caltech/United Launch Alliance

Image Addition Date:
2009-12-01