Boeing Delta II Successfully Deploys QuickBird Satellite
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.- A Boeing Delta II 7320-10 rocket lifted off today from
Space Launch Complex 2W at Vandenberg Air Force Base, at 11:51 a.m.
PDT carrying the DigitalGlobe QuickBird imaging satellite.
One hour and 30 seconds later, the spacecraft was successfully
deployed to a sun-synchronous orbit.
Today’s launch is the first of two Delta II launches at Vandenberg
this year for the Boeing Delta team. The Boeing Delta II was selected
by DigitalGlobe to deploy QuickBird because of the launch vehicle’s
100 percent mission success record since 1997.
“Today’s successful mission continues the Boeing Delta II’s
reputation of reliability,” said Jay Witzling, vice president, Delta
and Titan deputy program manager for Boeing Expendable Launch Systems.
“I’m also proud of our Delta team in deploying QuickBird for
DigitalGlobe in less than a year from the time we received the order,
proving our team’s capability to meet our customers’ scheduling
requirements.”
“The Boeing company has been fantastic during the launch campaign,
they have been able to meet all of our accelerated schedule needs.
Bottom line is that they met the schedule and deployed our satellite
using the most reliable rocket,” stated Herb Satterlee, president and
chief executive officer of DigitalGlobe.
Satterlee also stated: “Our customers worldwide have been
anticipating this launch for quite some time and we are very pleased
to announce a successful deployment of the world’s highest resolution
commercial imaging satellite, QuickBird.”
Applications of the QuickBird satellite include mapping, urban
planning, agricultural monitoring, environmental impact assessment,
and disaster assessment and response.
QuickBird is owned and operated by DigitalGlobe of Longmont, Colo.
The developer of the spacecraft is Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
of Boulder, Colo.
The Boeing Co., with headquarters in Chicago, is the largest
aerospace company in the world and the United States’ leading
exporter. It is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial
jetliners and military aircraft, and the largest NASA contractor.
The company’s capabilities in aerospace also include rotorcraft,
electronic and defense systems, missiles, rocket engines, launch
vehicles, satellites and advanced information and communication
systems. The company has an extensive global reach with customers in
145 countries and manufacturing operations throughout the United
States, Canada and Australia.
Note to Editors: Delta II/QuickBird mission information is
available on the Boeing Web site at:
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/delta/delta2/quickbird/
