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VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Oct. 8, 2009 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], through its commercial launch business, today successfully launched the WorldView-2 satellite for DigitalGlobe aboard a Delta II rocket.
Liftoff occurred at 11:51 a.m. Pacific time from Pad SLC-2W at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The Delta II released WorldView-2 approximately 62 minutes after liftoff, delivering it into a sun-synchronous orbit where the satellite will begin its mission of collecting and recording commercial, high-resolution Earth imagery.
"We are pleased to provide another successful launch for DigitalGlobe," said Ken Heinly, director of Boeing Launch Products & Services and president of Boeing Launch Services. "Today's launch of WorldView-2 marks the 91st consecutive successful launch of the highly reliable and dependable Delta II launch vehicle."
The first of the DigitalGlobe next-generation class of imaging satellites, WorldView-1, was launched by a Delta II in September 2007.
United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, provides the Delta II launch vehicle and mission services under a commercial contract administered by Boeing Launch Services.
Boeing Launch Services is a customer-focused subsidiary that provides business development, sales, procurement and program management of Delta launch services for commercial customers. It is part of the Space Exploration division of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and is based in Huntington Beach, Calif.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.
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Contact:
Susan Wells
Boeing Space Exploration
321-446-4970
susan.h.wells@boeing.com
