Delta II Providing the Ride

The launch vehicle that will place JPSS-1 into polar orbit is a Delta II 7920 consisting of a booster stage, hypergolic second stage, nine solid rocket motors and a 10-foot diameter payload fairing.
The launch vehicle that will place JPSS-1 into polar orbit is a Delta II 7920 consisting of a booster stage, hypergolic second stage, nine solid rocket motors and a 10-foot diameter payload fairing. More Information

JPSS-1 and ELaNa XIV will be boosted into orbit by the United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket. This Delta II is a 7920 configuration, meaning a two-stage rocket topped by a 10-foot-diameter fairing. The booster stage will get an assist from nine solid rocket motors during the first phase of launch; six of the boosters will ignite at T-0 and the other three are “air-lit,” meaning they’ll start their burn after flight is underway.

Today’s launch will be the 154th launch for the Delta II, and NASA’s 53rd mission relying on the rocket for a ride into space. The Delta II sent NASA’s Spirit and Opportunity rovers to Mars and also launched missions such as Aquarius, Kepler and Suomi NPP, the first satellite in the JPSS series.