United Launch Alliance to Launch Final Delta II with NASA's ICESat-2

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Sep 12, 2018, 12:57 ET

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Sept. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket is in final preparations to launch NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) spacecraft from Space Launch Complex-2 on Sept. 15. This marks the final launch of the Delta II rocket, which first launched on Feb. 14, 1989.

"This is the end of an era, as we prepare to launch the final Delta II rocket," said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. "This vehicle has truly created a legacy throughout its history launching NASA, critical U.S. military satellites and commercial clients."

From its origin as the launch vehicle for the first Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites to NASA's Earth observing, science and interplanetary satellites – including Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity – to vital commercial communication and imaging satellites, the Delta II rocket has justly earned its place in space history.

ICESat-2, with its single instrument, the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS), will provide scientists with height measurements to create a global portrait of Earth's third dimension, gathering data that can precisely track changes of terrain including glaciers, sea ice, forests and more. Northrop Grumman built the spacecraft. In addition to ICESat-2, this mission includes four CubeSats which will launch from dispensers mounted to the Delta II second stage.

This mission will launch aboard a Delta II 7420-10 configuration rocket, which includes a 10-foot-diameter payload fairing (PLF). The booster for this mission is powered by the RS-27A engine and the second stage is powered by the AJ10-118K engine.

To date ULA has a track record of 100% mission success with 129 successful launches.

With more than a century of combined heritage, United Launch Alliance is the nation's most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 125 satellites to orbit that aid meteorologists in tracking severe weather, unlock the mysteries of our solar system, provide critical capabilities for troops in the field and enable personal device-based GPS navigation.

For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch.

SOURCE United Launch Alliance (ULA)