Technicians Connect Fairing

On Launch Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the first half of the fairing is moved into place around NASA’s Kepler spacecraft, atop the United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket. The fairing is a molded structure that fits flush with the outside surface of the rocket and forms an aerodynamically smooth nose cone, protecting the spacecraft during launch and ascent. Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller