spacetoday.net: Delta 2 launches THEMIS

Delta 2 launches THEMIS

Posted: Sun, Feb 18, 2007, 10:58 AM ET (1558 GMT)
Delta 2 launch of THEMIS (NASA/KSC)

A Delta 2 successfully launched Saturday evening five space science satellites that will study activity in the Earth's magnetosphere. The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta 2 lifted off from Pad 17B at Cape Canaveral at 6:01 pm EST (2301 GMT) Saturday, and ejected the spacecraft into transfer orbits 73 minutes later. The launch had been delayed a day because of high winds. The five THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) satellites will be used to study the development of large energy releases called "substorms" in the Earth's magnetosphere. The launch was also the first East Coast launch conducted by ULA, the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture that handles Delta and Atlas launches for the US government.