Delta 2 rocket Launch with GPS IIR-20 (M)

March 24, 2009 - Cape Canaveral Air Force Base.
A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket successfully launched the Air Forces Global Positioning Satellite IIR-20(M) into orbit from Space Launch Complex 17A at 4:34 a.m., EDT. This was the 47th successful GPS launch for the Delta II in its storied 20-year history.
Designed to operate for 10 years, GPS satellites orbit the Earth every 12 hours, emitting continuous navigation signals. With the proper equipment, users can receive these signals to calculate time, location and velocity. In addition to its military use, GPS satellites provide directional assistance to civilian users around the world.
The ULA Delta II 7925-9.5 configuration vehicle featured an ULA first stage booster powered by a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-27A main engine and nine Alliant Techsystems (ATK) strap-on solid rocket motors. An Aerojet AJ10-118K engine powered the second stage. A spin-stabilized Star-48B solid-rocket motor built by ATK boosted the third stage. The payload was encased by a 9.5-foot-diameter metallic payload fairing.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• delta
• rocket
• launch
• with
• gps
• iir-20
• (m)
• satellite
• cape
• canaveral
• air
• force
• base
• global
• positioning
• space
• complex
• 17a
• ula
• united
• alliance
• atk
• booster
• 7925-9.5

[drewd1987]

I guess those motors that sperated was the triangular thing I saw...