Boeing Delta II launches IceSat/ChipSat from Vandenberg AFB. CA. 01-12-2003
A Boeing Delta II rocket successfully launched the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) and the Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer Satellite (CHIPSat) today in a dual primary payload mission for NASA.
The Delta II lifted off at 4:45pm PST (0045 UTC Jan 13) from Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., delivering both satellites to circular polar orbits.
ICESat was deployed first at one-hour and four minutes into flight, followed by CHIPSat that was deployed 19 minutes and 20 seconds later.
A Delta II 7320-10 launch vehicle with a Reduced Height Dual Payload Attach Fitting (RH-DPAF) was used for the mission. The RH-DPAF enables two satellites of different sizes to be launched aboard the same rocket.
Read MoreThe Delta II lifted off at 4:45pm PST (0045 UTC Jan 13) from Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., delivering both satellites to circular polar orbits.
ICESat was deployed first at one-hour and four minutes into flight, followed by CHIPSat that was deployed 19 minutes and 20 seconds later.
A Delta II 7320-10 launch vehicle with a Reduced Height Dual Payload Attach Fitting (RH-DPAF) was used for the mission. The RH-DPAF enables two satellites of different sizes to be launched aboard the same rocket.
