U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet            DELTA II LAUNCH VEHICLE                  MissionThe Delta II is                   an expendable launch, medium-lift vehicle used to launch                   Global Positioning System satellites into orbit,                   providing navigational data to military users. Additionally,                   the Delta II launches civil and commercial payloads into                   low-earth, polar, geosynchronous transfer and stationary                   orbits.FeaturesThe Delta II                   stands a total height of 125.75 feet (38.32 meters). The                   payload fairing -- the shroud covering the third stage and the                   satellite -- is 2. 9 meters (9.5 feet) wide to accommodate the                   GPS satellite. A 3-meter (10 feet) stretched version fairing                   also is available for larger payloads. Six of the nine                   solid-rocket motors that ring the first stage separate after                   one minute of flight, and the remaining three ignite, then                   separate, after burn-out one minute                   later.BackgroundThe Delta                   launch vehicle family began in 1959 when NASA's Goddard Space                   Flight Center awarded a contract to Douglas Aircraft Company                   (now Boeing) to produce and integrate 12 space-launch                   vehicles. The Delta used components from the U.S. Air Force's                   Thor intermediate-range ballistic missile as its first stage                   and the U.S. Navy's Vanguard launch vehicle program as its                   second. The first Delta was launched from Cape Canaveral Air                   Force Station, Fla., on May 13, 1960 and had the ability to                   deliver a 100-pound spacecraft into geostationary transfer                   orbit.In January 1987 the Air Force awarded a contract                   to McDonnell Douglas, now Boeing, for construction of 18 Delta                   IIs to launch GPS satellites, originally programmed for                   launch on the space shuttle. The Delta II remains the                   U.S. Air Force's sole launch platform for placing GPS IIR                   satellites in orbit.The first Delta II was                   successfully launched on Feb. 14, 1989, at Cape Canaveral.                   There are two primary versions of the Delta II (6925 and                   7925). The Delta 6925, the first version, carried the initial                   nine GPS satellites into orbit.Since May 1960, the                   Delta program has more than 270 successful military, civil and                   commercial launches. The Delta accomplished many firsts over                   the years. These include the first international satellite,                   Telstar I, in 1962; the first geosynchronous-orbit satellite,                   Syncorn II, in 1963; and the first commercial communications                   satellite, COMSAT I, in 1965.The Delta II is launched                   from Cape Canaveral AFS and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.                   Members of Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, with                   headquarters at Patrick AFB, Fla., and 30th Space Wing at                   Vandenberg AFB are responsible for the Delta II's military                   launch missions.General                   CharacteristicsPrimary Function: Space lift                   vehicleBuilder: Boeing Company,                   Expendable Launch SystemsPower Plant, first                   stage: one Rocketdyne RS-27 and two LR-101-NA-11                   vernier engines; both use refined kerosene and liquid oxygen                   as its propellants; thrust (sea level), 200,000 pounds. Nine                   Alliant Techsystems strap-on graphite-epoxy motors surround                   the first stage for augmented lift-off; thrust, 100,270                   poundsPower Plant, second stage:                   restartable Aerojet AJ10-110K motor; uses nitrogen tetroxide                   and Aerozine 50 propellants; thrust, 9,750                   poundsPayload assist module: If used,                   Star-48B Solid-fuel Rocket: 14,920 pounds.Thrust                   (at liftoff): 699,250                   poundsHeight: 125 feet, 9 inches (38.32                   meters)Diameter: Fairing -- 9.5 feet                   (2.87 meters), core -- 8 feet (2.4                   meters)Weight: 511,190 pounds (231,870                   kilograms)Lift Capability: The Delta II                   can carry payloads into near-earth orbits, approximately 100                   nautical miles (160 kilometers) in space. It can lift up to                   11,100 pounds (4,995 kilograms) into low earth orbit,                   28-degree circular near-earth orbit and up to 8,420 pounds                   (3,789 kilograms) into a 90-degree polar orbit. The Delta II                   also can carry up to 4,010 pounds (1,804.5 kilograms) into                   geo-transfer orbit, approximately 12,000 miles (19,200                   kilometers) and up to 2,000 pounds (909 kilograms) into                   geosynchronous orbit, approximately 22,000 miles (35,200                   kilometers).Payloads: DOD Global                   Positioning System; civil and commercial                   satellitesGuidance System: Delta                   Redundant Inertial Flight Control Assembly manufactured by                   Allied Signal AerospaceDate Deployed:                   Nov. 26, 1990 (7920/7925 series)Launch                   Sites: Space Launch Complex 17 Pads A and B, Cape                   Canaveral AFS, Fla.; Space Launch Complex 2 West, Vandenberg                   AFB, Calif.Unit cost: Not                   availableInventory: Not                   availablePoint of                   ContactAir Force Space Command, Public Affairs                   Office; 150 Vandenberg St., Suite 1105; Peterson AFB, CO                   80914-4500; DSN 692-3731, or (719)                   554-3731.October                   2006