Tue, Aug 18, 2009
Final Air Force Launch For Delta II, But Rocket Still
Viable
The 48th successful and final Air
Force Delta II Global Positioning System satellite launch occurred
Monday, ending one of the most successful space launch programs in
American history. A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket launched
GPS IIR-21(M) into orbit from Space Launch Complex-17A at
0635 EDT. The first Air Force Delta II GPS launch occurred
Feb. 14, 1989 and this launch marked the 48th successful GPS
mission giving the program a 98 percent success rate. The first
launch in 1989 was NAVSTAR II-1. NAVSTAR is now commonly known as
GPS.
Following a nominal 1 hour and 8 minute flight, the rocket
deployed the GPS IIR-21(M) spacecraft, the eighth modernized
NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block II R-M military navigation
satellite.
"Congratulations to the Air Force and our mission partners in
deploying this revolutionary space system that has changed the
world for the better in the past 20 years," said Jim Sponnick, vice
president, Delta Product Line. "One third of the 143 successful
Delta II launches were GPS satellites. The ULA Delta team is
extremely proud to have launched this incredible constellation.
During the past two decades, the system has changed how people live
their lives on a daily basis. GPS has greatly improved military
operations as well as numerous maritime, aircraft, civilian and
business operations worldwide."
While this launch concludes the Air Force use of Delta II as it
transitions its systems to Atlas V and Delta IV, the Delta II will
still keep launching into the future for NASA and commercial
customers.
Delta II Launch File Photo
"We have the STSS Demo launch set for September, the WorldView-2
launch scheduled for October, and several more scheduled beyond
those missions," Sponnick said. "The Delta II workhorse will remain
the medium class launch vehicle industry standard for years to
come."
ULA's next launch is the Department of Defense PAN mission
scheduled aboard an Atlas V from SLC-41 here. A specific launch
date in September has not been established.
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