Story Continues BelowThe launch of the Delta rocket was delayed a few days, first because of stormy weather at the launch site and then because of a small fuel leak in the ground support system at the launch pad.

Finally, the venerable launch vehicle blasted off after a 20 minute delay this morning on a picture-perfect ascent to orbit. A small thunderstorm popped up off the coast just as fueling operations were about to get underway, prompting the 20 minute delay.

Delta flew in the 7920-10C configuration with 9 solid rocket boosters and a 10 foot payload fairing to protect the dual spacecraft and orbital insertion stage.

The Delta rocket quickly rose through the brilliant morning Sun and arced over on a rare high-inclination trajectory to the northeast on target for a 730 nautical mile high circular orbit inclined 58 degrees to the Equator.

The two satellites were released in tandem almost an hour after launch to complete another successful Delta mission and extending a streak of successful launches going back to 1997.

"We inserted the satellites at about one tenth of a mile higher than what was targeted, so we are very happy," said NASA launch director Omar Baez after today's success. "The Delta II performed just perfect."

"The launch and deployment this morning from the Delta II rocket went flawlessly," said Rear Admiral Joseph Horn, Missile Defense Agency Deputy Director. "Both satellites are in their expected orbits, both are safe, communicating with the ground station, responding to commands and receiving solar power."

"The STSS DEMO mission is important to our nation's defense. Our team continues to work hard to ensure we are doing all we can to provide the support needed for such important missions to occur," said Brig. Gen. Edward L. Bolton Jr., 45th Space Wing commander.

"We have a great team that does whatever it takes to ensure mission success. If one tiny detail is wrong the whole mission can not be successful. It is crucial for us to ensure the details are taken care of, all the while keeping the big picture in mind." said 1st Lt. Scott Nakatani, Mission Lead for the STSS Demo and Delta II Operations Integrator, 5th Space Launch Squadron.

"Building on the launch of the STSS ATRR mission in May, I congratulate both the Missile Defense Agency and NASA for the start of a second successful mission that will demonstrate technologies very important to the defense of our nation," said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Delta Product Line. "Exceptional teamwork between, NASA, the 45th Space Wing, the Missile Defense Agency, and ULA Delta II team enabled today's successful launch of the STSS Demo mission."

At a cost of $1.5 billion, the STSS Demo mission will test advanced concepts that will be used by the Missile Defense Agency on future systems to track missiles from launch through re-entry, helping to provide targeting and intercept data for defense systems such as the ground-based interceptors currently being deployed in various locations around the world.

(Image above: STSS Demo spacecraft. Credit: United Launch Alliance)
Northrop Grumman built the two spacecraft, which weigh a combined 4947 pounds. The solar powered spacecraft contain sensors in both the visible light and infrared spectra and can detect missile launches and track them through the boost phase out of the atmosphere, the coast through space and eventual re-entry over a target.

(Image above: STSS Demo spacecraft launch configuration. Credit: United Launch Alliance)
Data collected by the two free-flying spacecraft will be combined to form stereoscopic 3-D tracking of targets and provide much more accurate information.

STSS is unique in that it has the ability to track missiles through all phases of flight. Existing surveillance satellites use infrared sensors to detect the white-hot exhaust plumes from missiles when they're launched and through ascent, the so-called "boost phase." NORAD relies on other systems, including a network of ground-based radars, to track the missiles after launch during the midcourse phase as the warheads are traveling through space. While the existing system is effective, STSS represents a leap in technology and capability with its ability to track all phases of flight and provide highly accurate three dimensional tracking and targeting data.



Launch of STSS Demo follows a precursor mission that flew out of Vandenberg AFB in California last May. Named the STSS Advanced Technology Risk Reduction, STSS ATRR), the $400 million spacecraft tested components in space to enhance the probability of success for STSS Demo during its two to four year mission.

(The Spacearium / Space Media Corporation)