spacetoday.net: Delta 2 launches NPP

Posted: Sat, Oct 29, 2011, 9:47 AM ET (1347 GMT)
Delta 2 launch of NPP (NASA)

In its last currently-scheduled launch, a Delta 2 rocket placed an Earth sciences satellite into orbit on Friday. The Delta 2 7920 lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 5:48 am EDT (0948 GMT) Friday and released the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite into a sun-synchronous orbit nearly one hour later. NPP carries a suite of instruments for weather and climate studies. NPP was originally a precursor to the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS), but that program has since been canceled and replaced by the Joint Polar Satellite System, whose first satellite will not launch until late this decade. The launch, which carried several cubesats as secondary payloads, was also the last scheduled launch for the venerable Delta 2, although United Launch Alliance hopes to sell up to five more Delta 2 launches to NASA or other customers.