Hopefully launch night in South California

Loading of the Delta 2 rocket's first stage liquid oxygen tank has been accomplished. The process took 26 minutes and 24 seconds today. The tank will be replenished through the countdown to replace the super-cold liquid oxygen that naturally boils away.

And now the Delta 2 rocket stands fully fueled its launch of the COSMO-SkyMed spacecraft at 7:20 p.m. local (10:20 p.m. EDT; 0220 GMT). The vehicle's first stage was successfully loaded with RP-1 kerosene fuel earlier today. The second stage was filled with its storable nitrogen tetroxide and Aerozine 50 fuels a few days ago. And the four strap-on booster rockets are solid-propellant.