A now rare Delta II rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base this afternoon, January 31st 2015 at 14:22 UTC carrying NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite. SMAP will over it's three year planned mission life produce a global map of Earth's soil moisture content.
This was the 153rd launch of a Delta II rocket since 1989, only two more missions are planned on the Delta II with parts for a final third rocket available.