Joint NASA-French spacecraft successfully launched

LOS ANGELES, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)/Jason-2, a joint NASA-French spacecraft, is speeding toward orbit atop a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket after a successful launch Friday morning, NASA announced.

This morning's liftoff followed a remarkably smooth countdown, with tracking assets, weather, spacecraft and rocket remaining "go" throughout the final prelaunch hours, according to NASA.