Boeing

Boeing [NYSE:BA] marked a page in history today by successfully completing the 100th Delta II mission to deploy NASA's Jason-1 and TIMED satellites into polar orbits. The Boeing Delta II roared into the sky at 7:07 a.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

"The success of today's launch testifies to the proven processes and design that are in place for the Delta program," said Joy Bryant, Boeing director of NASA expendable launch programs. "It also testifies to our team's commitment and dedication to ensuring that each mission is executed on time and accurately."

Less than an hour after launch, the Boeing Delta II deployed Jason-1 on a mission to monitor global ocean circulation, study the link between the oceans and atmosphere, improve global climate predictions and monitor events such as El Nino,

Approximately two hours into flight, the Delta II placed TIMED, the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics spacecraft, into orbit and paved the way for a mission to explore the least understood region of the Earth's atmosphere, the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere/Ionosphere. This mission will help scientists better understand this atmospheric region's effects on a number of areas including communications, satellite tracking and spacecraft lifetimes.

"The Delta rocket has long been considered the 'workhorse' of the NASA fleet," said Chuck Dovale, NASA launch manager. "NASA is both pleased and proud to continue to utilize this outstanding vehicle and program to launch its most important payloads."

Jason-1 is a joint effort between NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena Calif., and the French Space Agency, CNES.

TIMED is a joint effort between NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center located in Greenbelt, Md. and the Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md.

Boeing Delta Web Site

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