On a historic day in the
launch industry, Boeing Launch Services’ customers successfully launched two
spacecraft within hours of each other from different vantage points on the
globe. Today, both Sea Launch and Delta II launch vehicles proved once again,
the ability of Boeing to achieve mission success for its launch
customers.
In an early morning launch from the equator the Sea Launch Zenit-3SL
lifted off its launch platform in the Pacific Ocean at 6:56 a.m. PDT (13:56
GMT) and successfully placed the Thuraya-2 commercial telecommunications
satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The Boeing GEO-Mobile satellite
was launched for Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company of Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates. The Thuraya mission was flown on the 6,000 kg Sea
Launch configuration. Boeing successfully acquired the satellite at
approximately one hour and 40 minutes after lift-off, with preliminary orbit
data indicating another on-target satellite placement for Sea Launch.
Less than four hours later a Boeing Delta II was launched from Space
Launch Complex 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., during an
instantaneous launch window of 1:58:47 p.m. The first of two scientific
missions for NASA, the Mars Exploration Rover A, recently named “Spirit,”
successfully separated from the Delta II launch vehicle after 37 minutes and
began its 7-month journey to Mars.
“The ability to provide launch services to two customers with specific
needs on the same day is exactly what Boeing Launch Services is all about,”
said Will Trafton, Boeing Launch Services president and vice president-general
manager of Boeing Expendable Launch Systems.
The second of the Mars missions, Mars Exploration Rover B, or
“Opportunity”, is currently scheduled to launch on June 25 from Cape Canaveral
aboard a Delta II Heavy launch vehicle. Boeing has successfully launched all
of NASA’s Mars probes and rovers aboard Delta II launch vehicles and hopes to
continue NASA missions with the unique, proven capabilities of the Delta II.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Integrated Defense Systems is one of the
world’s largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis,
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $25 billion business. It provides
systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers.
It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; the
world’s largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world’s largest satellite
manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary
systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA’s largest contractor; and a
global leader in launch services.
