Animation of the Atlas-IIAS launch and Terra satellite deployment A <a href="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/">Quicktime</a> or equivalent viewer is necessary to view this movie If the above animation did not download and you have a quicktime player (or equivalent .mpg or .mov player), try selecting the following link: Animation (local scale) showing the Atlas-IIAS launch and Terra satellite deployment (4.3MB Quicktime.mpg) The Terra spacecraft launched in December 1999 from Vandenberg Air Force Base aboard a Lockheed-Martin Atlas-IIAS rocket. The rocket has multiple stages to orbit. Once the fuel in the solid rocket boosters is consumed, they are jettisoned to reduce weight. After the rocket escapes The second stage of the launch vehicle deployed Terra to an orbital altitude of 705 km.