Launch nears for observatory to monitor Sun's behavior

At a satellite-readying hangar outside the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, NASA's sophisticated new Sun-studying probe was enclosed within the giant metal fairing that will shroud the craft during ascent to space atop an Atlas 5 booster next month. The Solar Dynamics Observatory is being prepared for launch from the Cape's Complex 41 on February 9 during a one-hour window opening at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT).

(Source: Space Flight Now - Jan 24)