Delta II rocket

Overview

The launch of the Mars Global Surveyor onboard a McDonnell Douglas-built Delta II-7925 rocket on November 7, 1996 from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida

Delta II rocket systems are used in a variety of applications.

Delta II is the current operational configuration of the original Thor-Delta family of launch vehicles which were based on the Thor ICBM of the 1950's.

During the development of the Space Shuttle program, expendables such as Delta, Atlas and Titan were phased out. The Challenger accident (January 28, 1986), spurred renewed investment in expendable launch vehicles such as the Delta II.

Delta II rockets have successfully launched over 125 missions into Earth orbit including several Mars missions:

• Mars Global Surveyor (1996)
• Mars Pathfinder (1996)
• Mars Climate Orbiter (1998)
• Mars Polar Lander (1999)
• Mars Odyssey (2001)
• Mars Exploration Rovers - Spirit and Opportunity (2003)
• Phoenix (2007)

My daughter and I are cplaemontting a tour of Israel in October 2011. Our desire would be to get from SeaTac to a Delta departure point for Israel, then a land tour of the Holy Land primarily where Jesus taught, walked, and died. We have even thought of combining the land tour portion with a cruise of the mission destination of St. Paul Ephesus, Corinth, etc. We are in the initial planning stages and seeking input for the best travel possibilities for the best prices. We are both retired educators. Thank you. I have over l00,000 miles with Delta. I am not sure regarding miles for my daughter, but I know they exceed 100,000 miles but I am not sure which airline(s).