Boeing Delta II Delivers NASA Satellites Into Space

A Boeing [NYSE: BA] Delta II rocket successfully launched the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s ICESat (ice, cloud and elevation satellite) and CHIPSat (cosmic hot interstellar plasma spectrometer satellite) Sunday from Space Launch Complex 2W at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

A Delta II 7320-10 launch vehicle carried out the mission using a reduced-height, dual-payload attach fitting that enables two satellites of different sizes to be launched aboard the same rocket. The next Delta II mission is the U.S. Air Force‘s GPS IIR-8 on Jan. 29 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The next Delta II launch for NASA is the space infrared telescope facility (SIRTF) aboard the new Delta II heavy lifter in April from Cape Canaveral.