CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Colorado-based United Launch Alliance announced the successful launch Wednesday of a U.S. Air Force satellite.
The ULA Delta II was carrying the U.S. Air Force's GPS IIR-17(M) satellite, the fourth modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System Block II R-M military navigation satellite. The launch took place at the Space Launch Complex 17-A in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Officials say the launch is the third ULA mission this year conducted for the Air Force, and one of the five remaining Air Force Delta II launches. ULA began processing the Delta II launch vehicle nearly two years ago.
"With nine successful missions completed this year, ULA's launch team continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing safe, cost-effective, reliable access to space for U.S. government missions," said Mark Wilkins, vice president of Delta Programs, in a statement. "We are honored to be a part of launching missions, such as GPS, which are force multipliers for our men and women in uniform serving our country throughout the world."
"The ULA Delta II 7925-9.5 configuration vehicle featured a ULA first-stage booster powered by a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-27A main engine and nine Alliant Techsystems strap-on solid rocket motors. An Aerojet AJ10-118K engine powered the second stage. A spin-stabilized Star-48B solid-rocket motor built by ATK boosted the third stage. The payload was encased by a 9.5-foot-diameter metallic payload fairing," according to the release.
ULA's next launch of the Defense Support Program (DSP-23) satellite for the Air Force aboard a Delta IV Heavy is scheduled for no earlier than mid-November.
