Seen the day before it was launched, the Delta II rocket that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope in visible and infrared light.

The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.

The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.

The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.

The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.

The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.

Seen the day before it was launched, the Delta II rocket that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope in visible and infrared light.

The gantry on the Delta II rocket that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope is rolled back on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.

The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.

The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.

The gantry on the Delta II rocket that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope is rolled back on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.

The Spitzer Space Telescope points its high-gain antenna towards the Earth for downlinking recent observations and uplinking new observing instructions.

Spitzer seen against the infrared sky. The band of light is the glowing dust emission from the Milky Way galaxy seen at 100 microns (as seen by the IRAS/COBE missions).Spitzer looks towards the Rho Ophiuchi star-formation region looming just above the disk of the Milky Way.

The Spitzer Space Telescope departing the Earth soon after launch. Africa is prominently visible. The radio dish facilities at Hartebeesthoek, South Africa, played a vital role in early communications after launch.

A photograph of a one-fifth scale model of the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Spitzer seen against the infrared sky. The band of light is the glowing dust emission from the Milky Way galaxy seen at 100 microns (as seen by the IRAS/COBE missions).

The Spitzer Space Telescope rendered from five different angles.

The Spitzer Space Telescope was launched with a dust cover protecting the telescope. This image shows the dust cover being ejected into space shortly after launch.

A photograph of a one-fifth scale model of the Spitzer Space Telescope.

The Spitzer Space Telescope seen against the infrared sky. The band of light is the glowing dust emission from the Milky Way galaxy seen at 100 microns (as seen by the IRAS/COBE missions).The disk of the Milky Way near the Rho Ophiuchi star formation region extends behind Spitzer.

The Spitzer Space Telescope on August 14, 2003, atop the Delta II rocket that would launch it into space on August 25, 2003.

On August 14, 2003, the Spitzer Space Telescope was secured into the faring on top of the Delta II rocket that launched it into Earth-trailing, heliocentric orbit.

The Spitzer Space Telescope on August 14, 2003, atop the Delta II rocket that would launch it into space on August 25, 2003.

On August 14, 2003, the Spitzer Space Telescope was secured into the faring on top of the Delta II rocket that launched it into Earth-trailing, heliocentric orbit.

On August 14, 2003, the Spitzer Space Telescope was secured into the faring on top of the Delta II rocket that launched it into Earth-trailing, heliocentric orbit.

On August 14, 2003, the Spitzer Space Telescope was secured into the faring on top of the Delta II rocket that launched it into Earth-trailing, heliocentric orbit.

On August 14, 2003, the Spitzer Space Telescope was secured into the faring on top of the Delta II rocket that launched it into Earth-trailing, heliocentric orbit.

The Spitzer Space Telescope on August 14, 2003, atop the Delta II rocket that would launch it into space on August 25, 2003.

The Spitzer Space Telescope is transferred from the clean room to the top of its Delta II rocket on August 10, 2003.

The Spitzer Space Telescope is transferred from the clean room to the top of its Delta II rocket on August 10, 2003.