Delta II Data Sheet

Space Launch Report: Delta II Data Sheet

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Delta II

Delta 226, a Standard 7925-9.5 with a GPS Payload

Boeing's Delta II, one of the world's most most successful expendable space launch vehicles, was an updated version of the Thor-Delta series that first flew for NASA in 1960. In the early 1980s, NASA halted procurement at Delta 183 after shifting all payloads to the Space Transportation System.

To create Delta II for the U.S. Air Force Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV) program after the 1986 Challenger accident, McDonnell Douglas had to restart Delta production. The new rocket's first stage was stretched 3.66 meters and it's payload fairing was widened. The ultimate Delta II version, which did not appear until 1990, was boosted by more powerful solid rocket motors and a more powerful first stage motor. Delta 184, the first Delta II, launched GPS 14 on Valentine's Day, 1989.

Boeing used a four-digit numbering system to identify specific Delta models. The first digit indicated the first stage and solid rocket motor (SRM) type. The first Delta II models, 16 altogether, were 6000-series birds with Extra Long Extended Tank (XLET) Thor first stages, with a Rocketdyne RS-27A main engine, and with Thiokol Castor 4A SRMs. Subsequent 7000-series Delta II vehicles used more powerful Alliant Graphite Epoxy SRMs (GEMs).

Delta 2 7925-10C (Composite 10 ft. Payload Fairing) Diagram

The second digit told how many SRMs were used, usually 3, 4 or 9. When nine SRMs were used, six ignite on the pad. The remaining three ignited in the air after the first six burn out.

The third digit indicated the type of second stage. After 1982, Delta used a Type 2 second stage powered by an Aerojet AJ10-118K pressure-fed, restartable hypergolic engine.

The fourth digit identified the optional third stage type. Delta II could be configured with no third stage (Type 0), with a Star 48B (Type 5), or with a Star 37 (Type 6). These solid motors were spun up on a second-stage-mounted spin table to add stability prior to release. Delta II did not use a third stage for low earth orbit missions.

In 2003, a new Delta II type, the 7XXX-H series (H for "Heavy") debuted. Delta II Heavy used nine of the larger, more powerful GEM-46 LDXL SRMs that were originally developed for Boeing's Delta III.

Delta 261, a 7326 "Med-Lite", Launches Deep Space One in 1998

Three Delta II payload fairings were available. The standard 2.9 meter diameter aluminum hammerhead payload fairing was designed to handle GPS-class payloads. A 3 meter tapered composite fairing later became the standard, replacing the aluminum fairing.

Versatile Delta II flew a wide variety of missions from fixed pads at both Cape Canaveral (SLC 17A and 17B) and Vandenberg (SLC 2W). Payload capacity to low earth orbit (LEO) from the Cape ranged from 2.8 to 6.1 metric tons. Polar orbit LEO payload capacity from Vandenberg was 2.1 to 3.8 tons (more mass could be boosted if SLC 2W were modified to handle the GEM-46 SRMs). Delta II could launch 1.1 to 2.2 tons to a 28.5 degree inclination geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) from Canaveral, and could propel nearly as much mass to solar orbit using a third stage.

Its GTO mission business dwindled after the 1990s, but Delta II continued to launch LEO satellites, NASA deep space missions, and GPS satellites for the U.S. Air Force. The GPS launches finally ended on August 17, 2009 with a final launch from SLC 17A. Seven subsequent non GPS launches from SLC 17B and from Vandenberg AFB SLC 2W closed out the planned manifest during 2009-2011. The final Cape launch, by Delta 356 (a 7920H) on September 9, 2011, sent NASA's GRAIL A and B spacecraft toward the Moon. Delta 357 (a 7920), closed out the manifest, and possibly the program, with an October 28, 2011 launch from Vandenberg carrying NPP and several additional satellites into sun synchronous orbit. It was the 151st Delta II and the 96th consecutive success. It was also the 340th Thor-Delta, the 606th orbital Thor, and the 719th Thor launch of any type.

After D357, United Launch Alliance still had parts on hand, in inventory at suppliers, or with parts able to be manufactured, to assemble five more Delta II rockets. None had payloads assigned, but ULA was actively offering the vehicles to NASA.

NASA Revives Delta 2

Delta 314, a 7420-10C, Stands on Vandenberg AFB SLC 2W in 2006

On July 16, 2012, NASA announced that it had awarded launch services contracts for three United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rockets, all to launch from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base. The announcement marked a reprieve for Delta 2, which had no manifested flights prior to the announcement.

Delta 2 will launch the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite during October 2014, the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) during July 2014, and the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1) spacecraft during November 2016. The total cost for the three launches, including payload processing and other mission-unique ground support, is about $412 million.

The three rockets, which will fly from Space Launch Complex 2 West toward sun synchronous low earth orbits, will largely be assembled from already-manufactured stockpiled components, such as engines, tank panels, and avionics. ATK will manufacture new solid rocket motor sets for the 7x20-series rockets. Parts for two additional unassigned Delta 2 rockets remained.

On February 22, 2013, NASA announced that it had assigned a fourth Delta 2 to launch the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat)-2 into near polar obit from Vandenberg AFB, a launch then scheduled for July 2016. A firm fixed-price launch service task order was awarded for the Delta 7320-10C launch under the indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract. NASA's total cost to launch ICESat-2 would be $96.6 million, including payload processing, integrated services, telemetry, reimbursables and other launch support requirements. The assignment gave Delta 2 a chance to record 100 consecutive success, should all four missions succeed.

Vehicle Configurations

	LEO Payload (metric tons) 185 km x (1) 28.5 deg (2) 90 deg	GTO Payload 1800 m/s from GEO* (metric tons) 185x35786km x28.7deg	Earth Escape Payload C3=0.4 km^2/s^2 i=28.7 deg (metric tons)	Configuration	LIftoff Height (meters)	Liftoff Mass (metric tons)
Delta 7320	2.80 t (1) 2.07 t (2)			XLET + 3xGEM + Stg2 + SPF	38.9 m	152 t
Delta 7420	3.20 t (1) 2.46 t (2)			XLET + 4xGEM + Stg2 + SPF	38.9 m	162 t
Delta 7425		1.14 t	0.806 t	XLET + 4xGEM + Stg2 + Star48B + SPF	38.9 m	165 t
Delta 7920	5.10 t (1) 3.83 t (2)			XLET + 9xGEM + Stg2 + SPF	38.9 m	228 t
Delta 7925		1.84 t	1.284 t	XLET + 9xGEM + Stg2 + Star48B + SPF	38.9 m	232 t
Delta 7920H	6.14 t (1)			XLET + 9xGEM-46 + Stg2 + SPF	38.9 m	283 t
Delta 7925H		2.19 t	1.519 t	XLET + 9xGEM-46 + Stg2 + Star48B + SPF	38.9 m	286 t

*GEO: Geosynchronous Earth Orbit

Vehicle Components

	GEM SRMs (each)	GEM-46 LDXL SRMs (each)	Extra Long Extended Tank (XLET) Thor First Stage	Second Stage	Star 48B Third Stage
Diameter (m)	1 m	1.17 m	2.4 m	2.4 m	1.2 m
Length (m)	13.0 m	14.7 m	26.1 m	6.0 m	2.0 m
Propellant Mass (tons)	11.77 t	16.86 t	96.12 t	6.00 t	2.01 t
Total Mass (tons)	13.08 t (GL) 13.2 t (AL)	19.07 t	101.80 t	6.95 t	2.27 t
Engine	GEM	GEM-46	RS-27A	AJ10-118K	Star 48B
Engine Mfgr	Alliant	Alliant	Rocketdyne	Aerojet	Thiokol
Fuel	HTPB	HTPB	RP-1	A-50	HTPB
Oxidizer			LOX	N2O4
Thrust (SL tons)	45.48 t	72.58 t (liftoff)	90.72 t
Thrust (Vac tons)	50.9 t (GL) 52.64 t (AL)	62.28 t (avg)	110.72 t	4.45 t	6.77 t
ISP (SL sec)	245.4 s	273 s	254.2 s
ISP (Vac sec)	274 s (GL) 283.4 s (AL)	278 s	301.7 s	319.2 s	292.2 s
Burn Time (sec)	63.3 s	75 s	260.5 s	431.6 s	87.1 s
No. Engines	1	1	1	1	1

Vehicle Components, Cont'd

	Standard 2.9 m Fairing	3 m Composite Fairing	3 m Composite Long Fairing
Diameter (meters)	2.9 m	3 m	3 m
Length (meters)	8.49 m	8.88 m	9.25 m
Mass (tons)	0.88 t

Delta 2 Launch History

                      DELTA 2 ORBITAL SPACE LAUNCH LOG

DATE     VEHICLE           ID     PAYLOAD                  MASS(t) SITE*      ORBIT*
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
02/14/89 Delta 2-6925      D184   GPS-2 1 (USA 35)          1.66   CC 17A     MTO [1]
06/10/89 Delta 2-6925      D185   GPS-2 2 (USA 38)          1.66   CC 17A     MTO
08/18/89 Delta 2-6925      D186   GPS-2 3 (USA 42)          1.66   CC 17A     MTO
10/21/89 Delta 2-6925      D188   GPS-2 4 (USA 47)          1.66   CC 17A     MTO
12/11/89 Delta 2-6925      D190   GPS-2 5 (USA 49)          1.66   CC 17B     MTO
01/24/90 Delta 2-6925      D191   GPS-2 6 (USA 50)          1.66   CC 17A     MTO
02/14/90 Delta 2-6920-8    D192   LACE / RME                2.47   CC 17B     LEO [2]
03/26/90 Delta 2-6925      D193   GPS-2 7 (USA 54)          1.66   CC 17A     MTO
04/13/90 Delta 2-6925-8    D194   Palapa B2R                1.2    CC 17B     GTO
06/01/90 Delta 2-6920-10   D195   ROSAT                     2.426  CC 17A     LEO
08/02/90 Delta 2-6925      D197   GPS-2 8 (USA 63)          1.66   CC 17A     MTO
08/18/90 Delta 2-6925      D198   Marco Polo 2              1.25   CC 17B     GTO
10/01/90 Delta 2-6925      D199   GPS-2 9 (USA 64)          1.66   CC 17A     MTO
10/30/90 Delta 2-6925      D200   Inmarsat-2 F1             1.31   CC 17B     GTO
11/26/90 Delta 2-7925      D201   GPS-2A 1 (USA 66)         1.816  CC 17A     MTO
01/08/91 Delta 2-7925      D202   NATO 4A                   1.434  CC 17B     GTO
03/08/91 Delta 2-6925      D203   Inmarsat-2 F2             1.31   CC 17B     GTO
04/13/91 Delta 2-7925      D204   ASC 2                     1.35   CC 17B     GTO
05/29/91 Delta 2-7925      D205   Satcom C5 (Aurora 2)      1.169  CC 17B     GTO
07/04/91 Delta 2-7925      D206   GPS-2A 2 / Losat X        1.816  CC 17A     MTO
02/23/92 Delta 2-7925      D207   GPS-2A 3 (USA 79)         1.816  CC 17B     MTO
04/10/92 Delta 2-7925      D208   GPS-2A 4 (USA 80)         1.816  CC 17B     MTO
05/14/92 Delta 2-7925-8    D209   Palapa B4                 1.2    CC 17B     GTO
06/07/92 Delta 2-6920-10   D210   EUVE                      3.275  CC 17A     LEO
07/07/92 Delta 2-7925      D211   GPS-2A 5 (USA 83)         1.816  CC 17B     MTO
07/24/92 Delta 2-6925      D212   Geotail / DUVE            1.009  CC 17A     EEO [3]
08/31/92 Delta 2-7925      D213   Satcom C4                 1.169  CC 17B     GTO
09/09/92 Delta 2-7925      D214   GPS-2A 6 (USA 84)         1.816  CC 17A     MTO
10/12/92 Delta 2-7925      D215   DFS-Kopernikus 3          1.415  CC 17B     GTO
11/22/92 Delta 2-7925      D216   GPS-2A 7 (USA 85)         1.816  CC 17A     MTO
12/18/92 Delta 2-7925      D217   GPS-2A 8 (USA 87)         1.816  CC 17B     MTO
02/03/93 Delta 2-7925      D218   GPS-2A 9 (USA 88)         1.816  CC 17A     MTO
03/30/93 Delta 2-7925      D219   GPS-2A 10 / SEDS 1        1.816  CC 17A     MTO
05/13/93 Delta 2-7925      D220   GPS-2A 11 (USA 91)        1.816  CC 17A     MTO
06/26/93 Delta 2-7925      D221   GPS-2A 12 (USA 92)/PMG    1.816  CC 17A     MTO
08/30/93 Delta 2-7925      D222   GPS-2A 13 (USA 94)        1.816  CC 17B     MTO
10/26/93 Delta 2-7925      D223   GPS-2A 14 (USA 96)        1.816  CC 17B     MTO
12/08/93 Delta 2-7925      D224   NATO 4B (USA 98)          1.434  CC 17A     GTO
02/19/94 Delta 2-7925-8    D225   Galaxy 1R2                1.397  CC 17B     GTO
03/10/94 Delta 2-7925      D226   GPS-2A 15 / SEDS 2        1.816  CC 17A     MTO
11/01/94 Delta 2-7925-10   D227   Wind                      1.2    CC 17B     EEO
08/05/95 Delta 2-7925      D228   Koreasat 1 (Mugunghwa 1)  1.464  CC 17B    [EEO][4]   
11/04/95 Delta 2-7920-10   D229   Radarsat 1 / Surfsat 1    2.805  Va 2W      LEO/S
12/30/95 Delta 2-7920-10   D230   XTE (RXTE)                3.035  CC 17A     LEO
01/14/96 Delta 2-7925      D231   Koreasat 2 (Mugunghwa 2)  1.464  CC 17B     GTO
02/17/96 Delta 2-7925-8    D232   NEAR (Discovery 2)        0.818  CC 17B     HCO
02/24/96 Delta 2-7925-10   D233   Polar                     1.25   Va 2W      EEO/P
03/27/96 Delta 2-7925      D234   GPS-2A 16 (USA 117)       1.816  CC 17B     MTO
04/24/96 Delta 2-7920-10   D235   MSX                       2.7    Va 2W      LEO/P
05/23/96 Delta 2-7925      D236   Galaxy 9                  1.397  CC 17B     GTO
07/16/96 Delta 2-7925      D237   GPS-2A 17 (USA 126)       1.816  CC 17A     MTO
09/12/96 Delta 2-7925      D238   GPS-2A 18 (USA 128)       1.816  CC 17A     MTO
11/07/96 Delta 2-7925      D239   Mars Global Surveyor      1.03   CC 17A     HCO
12/04/96 Delta 2-7925      D240   Mars Pathfinder           0.89   CC 17B     HCO
01/16/97 Delta 2-7925      D241   GPS-2R 1                  2.032  CC 17A    [FTO][5]
05/05/97 Delta 2-7920-10C  D242   Iridium 04-08             3.445  VA 2W      LEO/P
05/24/97 Delta 2-7925      D243   Thor 2                    1.467  CC 17A     GTO
07/09/97 Delta 2-7920-10C  D244   Iridium 15,17,18,20,21    3.445  VA 2W      LEO/P
07/23/97 Delta 2-7925      D245   GPS-2R 2 (USA 132)        2.032  CC 17A     MTO
08/21/97 Delta 2-7920-10C  D246   Iridium 22-26             3.445  VA 2W      LEO/P
08/25/97 Delta 2-7920-8    D247   ACE                       0.785  CC 17A     HCO
09/25/97 Delta 2-7920-10C  D248   Iridium 19, 34-37         3.445  VA 2W      LEO/P
11/06/97 Delta 2-7925      D249   GPS-2A 19 (USA 135)       1.816  CC 17A     MTO
11/09/97 Delta 2-7920-10C  D250   Iridium 38-41, 43         3.445  VA 2W      LEO/P
12/20/97 Delta 2-7920-10C  D251   Iridium 45-49             3.445  VA 2W      LEO/P
01/10/98 Delta 2-7925      D252   Skynet 4D                 1.500  CC 17B     GTO 
02/14/98 Delta 2-7420-10C  D253   Globalstar 1-4            1.800  CC 17A     LEO 
02/18/98 Delta 2-7920-10C  D254   Iridium MS-7 (50,52-4,56) 3.445  VA 2W      LEO 
03/30/98 Delta 2-7920-10C  D255   Iridium MS-8 (55,57-60)   3.445  VA 2W      LEO
04/24/98 Delta 2-7420-10C  D256   Globalstar 6,8,14,15      1.500  CC 17A     LEO
05/17/98 Delta 2-7920-10C  D257   Iridium MS-9 (70,72-75)   3.445  VA 2W      LEO
06/10/98 Delta 2-7925      D258   Thor 3                    1.451  CC 17A     GTO 
09/08/98 Delta 2-7925-10C  D260   Iridium MS-10 (77,79-82)  3.445  VA 2W      LEO
10/24/98 Delta 2-7326      D261   Deep Space 1              0.486  CC 17A     HCO [6]
11/06/98 Delta 2-7920-10C  D262   Iridium MS-11 (2,83-86)   3.445  VA 2W      LEO
11/22/98 Delta 2-7925      D263   Bonum 1                   1.406  CC 17B     GTO     
12/11/98 Delta 2-7425      D264   Mars Climate Orbiter      0.633  CC 17A     HCO   
01/03/99 Delta 2-7425      D265   Mars Polar Lander/DS 2    0.574  CC 17B     HCO 
02/07/99 Delta 2-7426      D266   Stardust (NASA)           0.385  CC 17A     HCO [7]
02/23/99 Delta 2-7920-10   D267   ARGOS/Orsted/Sunsat       2.845  VA 2W      LEO/S
04/15/99 Delta 2-7920-10C  D268   Landsat 7 (NASA)          1.970  VA 2W      LEO/S
06/10/99 Delta 2-7420-10C  D270   Globalstar 25,47,49,52    1.500  CC 17B     LEO
06/24/99 Delta 2-7320-10C  D271   FUSE                      1.335  CC 17A     LEO 
07/10/99 Delta 2-7420-10C  D272   Globalstar 30,32,35,51    1.500  CC 17B     LEO
07/25/99 Delta 2-7420-10C  D273   Globalstar 26,28,43,48    1.500  CC 17A     LEO  
08/17/99 Delta 2-7420-10C  D274   Globalstar 24,27,53,54    1.500  CC 17B     LEO
10/07/99 Delta 2-7925      D275   GPS 2R-3                  2.032  CC 17A     MTO  
02/08/00 Delta 2-7420-10C  D276   Globalstar 60,62-64       1.500  CC 17B     LEO
03/25/00 Delta 2-7326      D277   IMAGE                     0.494  VA 2W      EEO/P
05/11/00 Delta 2-7925      D278   GPS 2R-4                  2.032  CC 17A     MTO
07/16/00 Delta 2-7925      D279   GPS 2R-5                  2.032  CC 17A     MTO
11/10/00 Delta 2-7925      D281   GPS 2R-6                  2.032  CC 17A     MTO
11/21/00 Delta 2-7320-10C  D282   EO-1/SAC-C/Munin          0.889  VA 2W      LEO/S
01/30/01 Delta 2-7925      D283   GPS 2R-7                  2.032  CC 17A     MTO
04/07/01 Delta 2-7925      D284   Mars Odyssey              0.725  CC 17A     HCO
05/18/01 Delta 2-7925      D285   GeoLITE                   1.800  CC 17B     GTO
06/30/01 Delta 2-7425-10C  D286   MAP                       0.800  CC 17B     EEO [8]
08/08/01 Delta 2-7326      D287   Genesis                   0.636  CC 17A     HCO [9]
10/18/01 Delta 2-7320-10C  D288   QuickBird 2               1.028  VA 2W      LEO/S
12/07/01 Delta 2-7920-10C  D289   JASON/TIMED               1.048  VA 2W      LEO
02/11/02 Delta 2-7910-10C  D290   Iridium (5) IS-1          3.445  VA 2W      LEO/S
05/04/02 Delta 2-7920-10L  D291   Aqua (NASA)               2.934  VA 2W      LEO/S
07/03/02 Delta 2-7425      D292   CONTOUR                   1.005  CC 17A     EEO [10]
01/13/03 Delta 2-7320-10C  D294   ICESat/CHIPSat            1.085  VA 2W      LEO/S
01/30/03 Delta 2-7925      D295   GPS 2R-8                  2.032  CC 17B     MTO
03/31/03 Delta 2-7925      D297   GPS 2R-9                  2.032  CC 17A     MTO
06/10/03 Delta 2-7925      D298   MER-A (Spirit)            1.063  CC 17A     HCO [11]
07/08/03 Delta 2-7925H     D299   MER-B (Opportunity)       1.063  CC 17B     HCO [11]                             
08/25/03 Delta 2-7920H     D300   SIRTF                     0.923  CC 17B     HCO [12]
12/21/03 Delta 2-7935      D302   GPS 2R-10                 2.032  CC 17A     MTO
03/20/04 Delta 2-7925      D303   GPS 2R-11                 2.03   CC 17B     MTO
04/20/04 Delta 2-7920-10C  D304   Gravity Probe B           3.3    VA 2W      LEO/P
06/23/04 Delta 2-7925      D305   GPS 2R-12                 2.0    CC 17B     MTO
07/15/04 Delta 2-7920-10L  D306   Aura (NASA)               3.1    VA 2W      LEO/S
08/03/04 Delta 2-7925H     D307   MESSENGER (NASA)          1.1    CC 17B     HCO [13]
11/06/04 Delta 2-7925      D308   GPS 2R-13                 2.0    CC 17B     MTO
11/20/04 Delta 2-7320-10C  D309   SWIFT (NASA)              1.3    CC 17A     LEO
01/12/05 Delta 2-7925      D311   Deep Impact               1.4    CC 17B     HCO [14]
05/20/05 Delta 2-7320-10C  D312   NOAA-N (18)               2.2    VA 2W      LEO/S
09/26/05 Delta 2-7925      D313   GPS 2R-14(M1)             2.1    CC 17A     MTO
04/28/06 Delta 2-7420-10C  D314   CALIPSO/Cloudsat          1.7    VA 2W      LEO/S
06/21/06 Delta 2-7925      D316   MITEX A/B                 1.1    CC 17A     GTO [15]
09/25/06 Delta 2-7925      D318   GPS 2R-15(M)              2.06   CC 17A     MTO
10/26/06 Delta 2-7925-10L  D319   STEREO (two sats)         1.24   CC 17B     EEO
11/17/06 Delta 2-7925      D321   GPS 2R-16(M3)             2.06   CC 17A     MTO
12/14/06 Delta 2-7920-10C  D322   NRO L-21                         VA 2W      LEO
02/17/07 Delta 2-7925-10C  D323   THEMIS                    0.5    CC 17B     EEO
06/08/07 Delta 2-7420-10C  D324   COSMO/SkyMed 1            1.91   VA 2W      LEO/S
08/04/07 Delta 2-7925      D325   Phoenix Mars Lander       0.67   CC 17A     HCO
09/18/07 Delta 2-7920-10C  D326   WorldView 1               2.5    VA 2W      LEO/S
09/27/07 Delta 2-7295H     D327   Dawn                      1.218  CC 17B     HCO [16]
10/17/07 Delta 2-7925      D328   GPS 2R-17                 2.059  CC 17A     MTO
12/09/07 Delta 2-7420-10C  D330   COSMO-Skymed 2            1.90   VA 2W      LEO/S
12/20/07 Delta 2-7925      D331   GPS 2R-18                 2.06   CC 17A     MTO
03/15/08 Delta 2-7925      D332   GPS 2R19                  2.06   CC 17A     MTO
06/11/08 Delta 2-7920H-10C D333   GLAST                     3.37   CC 17B     LEO
06/20/08 Delta 2-7320-10C  D334   Jason 2                   0.506  VA 2W      LEO
09/06/08 Delta 2-7420-10C  D335   GeoEye 1                  1.923  VA 2W      LEO/S
10/25/08 Delta 2-7420-10C  D336   Cosmo/Skymed 3            1.90   VA 2W      LEO/S
02/06/09 Delta 2-7320-10C  D338   NOAA-N Prime              1.44   VA 2W      LEO/S
03/07/09 Delta 2-7925-10L  D339   Kepler                    1.05   CC 17B     HCO [17]
03/24/09 Delta 2-7925      D340   GPS 2R-20(M)              2.059  CC 17A     MTO
05/05/09 Delta 2-7920-10C  D341   STSS-ATRR                        VA 2W      LEO/P
08/17/09 Delta 2-7925      D343   GPS 2R-21(M)              2.059  CC 17A     MTO
09/25/09 Delta 2-7920-10C  D344   STSS Demo                 2.244  CC 17B     LEO
10/08/09 Delta 2-7920-10C  D345   Worldview 2               2.615  VA 2W      LEO/S
12/14/09 Delta 2-7320-10C  D347   WISE                      0.674  VA 2W      LEO/S
11/06/10 Delta 2-7420-10C  D350   COSMO-SkyMed 4            1.9    VA 2W      LEO/S
06/10/11 Delta 2-7320-10C  D354   SAC-D/Aquarius            1.35   VA 2W      LEO/S
09/10/11 Delta 2-7920H-10C D356   GRAIL A/B                 0.614  CC 17B     EEO [18]
10/28/11 Delta 2-7920-10C  D357   NPP                       1.97   VA 2W      LEO/S
07/02/14 Delta 2-7320-10C  D367   OCO 2                     0.453  V 2W       LEO/S
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1] Standard GPS mission used 3.5 stage Delta 2 to put satellite into a 
     187 x 20,368 km transfer orbit.  A Star 37 apogee kick motor (part of the 
     satellite payload) would fire at first apogee to circularize the orbit.

[2] LEO missions typically used 2.5 stage Delta 2.

[3] Final Delta with Castor 4A strap on motors, launched Japan's ISAS Geotail into 
     into a highly elliptical orbit, which was subsequently modified by two lunar 
     swingbys into a 57,000 km × 200,000 km x 29 deg orbit.  

[4] One SRM failed to separate, leaving Koreasat in much lower than planned orbit.

[5] Solid Rocket Motor exploded at T+7 seconds, destroying vehicle.  

[6] Deep Space 1 tested xenon-ion engine.  Flew by Asteroid 9962 Braille on 
     7/29/99 and comet 19P/Borrelly on 09/22/01.

[7] Stardust flew by asteriod 5535 Annefrank on 11/02/02 and collected dust samples 
     during flyby of Comet 81P/Wild 2 during January 2004.  Returned samples in 
     capsule that parachuted to landing in Utah on 01/15/06.  Spacecraft continued 
     an extended mission that flew by comet 9P/Tempel 1 on 02/14/11. 

[8] Lunar swingby to L2

[9] Genesis orbited the Earth-Sun L-1 point to collect solar wind samples for 30 
     months. Sample return capsule reentered on 09/09/04, but parachute failed 
     to deploy and capsule crash landed in Utah desert.  Cause was improper 
     orientation of gravity switches. Some samples extrated from wrecked capsule. 
 
[10] Contour lost on 8/15/02 with Star 30 motor embedded in and part of spacecraft 
      ignited to accelerate Contour from highly elliptic phasing orbit to solar 
      orbit.  Motor exhaust plume heating destroyed spacecraft due to improper 
      design.

[11] Mars Exploration Rovers.
 
[12] SIRTF (Space Infrared Telescope Facility) was a 1 meter cryo-cooled infrared 
      space telescope placed in solar orbit.  Renamed Spitzer Space Telescope 
      once in orbit.

[13] MESSENGER entered orbit of Mercury on 03/18/11 after performing an Earth 
      flyby, two Venus flybys, and three Mercury flybys.  

[14] Deep Impact released impactor that hit comet P/Tempel 1 on 07/04/05. Spacecraft 
      imaged effects of impact during flyby.  

[15] Payload included new USN liquid fourth stage

[16] Dawn, powered by ion engines, orbited asteriod Vesta between July 2011 and 
      September 2012 at altitudes as close as 200 km.  Dawn then departed and 
      headed for a planned 2015 encounter with asteriod Ceres.  

[17] Kepler discovered thousands of exoplanets candidates during landmark mission.

[18] Entered polar lunar orbit via. L1 point during a 3.5 month "cruise".  Mapped 
      lunar gravity details.  


*Site Code:

CC = Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
VA = Vandenberg AFB, CA, USA

*Orbit Code:

[FTO] = Failed to Orbit
[EEO] = Unplanned EEO
EEO = Elliptical Earth Orbit
EEO/P = EEO Polar Inclination
GTO = Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
GTO+ = Supersynchronous Transfer Orbit
GTO- = Subsynchronous Transfer Orbit
GEO = Geosynchronous Orbit
HCO = Heliocentric (solar) Orbit
HTO = High Earth Transfer Orbit
LEO = Low Earth Orbit
LEO/S = Sun Synchronous Low Earth Orbit
LEO/P = Polar Low Earth Orbit
MEO = Medium Earth Orbit
MTO = Medium Earth Transfer Orbit 




References

Delta II Payload Planners Guide, October 2000
ATK Space Propulsion Products Catalog, 2008

Last Update: July 2, 2014

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