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)
