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NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope (formerly known as the Space Infrared Telescope Facility or “SIRTF”), is an infrared space –based observatory. The spacecraft, one of the U.S. space agency’s Great Observatories program was launched atop the Delta II 7920H rocket on August 25, 2003. Built by Lockheed and Ball Aerospace, the satellite lifted off at 01:35 a.m. EDT (05:35 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 17 (SLC-17) located in Florida. The mission cost an estimated U.S. $720 million and, as of March 20, 2017 is still in service. Photos courtesy: Carleton Bailie
