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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations spacecraft NOAA-N leaps away from the smoke and steam clouds as it lifts off at 6:22 a.m. EDT from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. It was launched by NASA on a Boeing Delta II 7320-10 expendable launch vehicle. Approximately 65 minutes later, the spacecraft separated from the Delta II second stage. Renamed NOAA-18 after achieving orbit, the spacecraft will collect data about the Earths surface and atmosphere. The data are input to NOAAs long-range climate and seasonal outlooks, including forecasts for El Nino and La Nina. NOAA-18 is the fourth in a series of five Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites with instruments that provide improved imaging and sounding capabilities.