Photo: United Launch Alliance
On September 15, 2018, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II rocket took off from the Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, carrying NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite 2 (ICESat-2).
The launch was the last for the iconic rocket, introduced by the rocket builders in 1989. 154 successful mission later, Delta II is to be retired, and ULA announced this weekend that the final resting place of the launcher will be the Rocket Garden at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
“The Delta II rocket has been a venerable workhorse for NASA and civilian scientists, the U.S. military, and commercial clients throughout its almost 30 years of service,” said in a statement Tory Bruno, United Launch Alliance CEO.
“This program comes to a close with the final launch of NASA’s ICESat-2, but its legacy will continue, and the Visitor Complex will help us keep the story of the success of this much-revered rocket in the hearts and minds of the public.”
The long life of the Delta II started on Valentine's Day in 1989, when it launched for the first time carrying the first operational GPS satellite into orbit. During its operational life, it also sent up the Kepler telescope, the twin lunar-orbiting GRAIL spacecraft, and a total of 48 GPS satellites. It was also used as a means of transport for several instruments sent by humans to Mars.
Currently, ULA is working on the next generation rocket, the Vulcan Centaur. The heavy-lifter is expected to carry its first payload into space in 2020, following six years of development.
As for the last payload transported by the Delta II, the ICESat-2 will be used to make a 3D portrait of the Earth and help track changes of terrain including glaciers, sea ice, and forests. Four CubeSats accompanied the ICESat-2 into space.
“The Delta II rocket has been a venerable workhorse for NASA and civilian scientists, the U.S. military, and commercial clients throughout its almost 30 years of service,” said in a statement Tory Bruno, United Launch Alliance CEO.
“This program comes to a close with the final launch of NASA’s ICESat-2, but its legacy will continue, and the Visitor Complex will help us keep the story of the success of this much-revered rocket in the hearts and minds of the public.”
The long life of the Delta II started on Valentine's Day in 1989, when it launched for the first time carrying the first operational GPS satellite into orbit. During its operational life, it also sent up the Kepler telescope, the twin lunar-orbiting GRAIL spacecraft, and a total of 48 GPS satellites. It was also used as a means of transport for several instruments sent by humans to Mars.
Currently, ULA is working on the next generation rocket, the Vulcan Centaur. The heavy-lifter is expected to carry its first payload into space in 2020, following six years of development.
As for the last payload transported by the Delta II, the ICESat-2 will be used to make a 3D portrait of the Earth and help track changes of terrain including glaciers, sea ice, and forests. Four CubeSats accompanied the ICESat-2 into space.
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