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.

The Boeing Company is the largest aerospace company in the world and the
United States’ leading exporter. It is the world’s largest NASA contractor
and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft.
The company’s capabilities in aerospace also include rotorcraft, electronic
and defense systems, missiles, rocket engines, launch vehicles, 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.