A Delta Rocket Launches
Credit:
A Delta rocket
is seen being launched in 1988. In use since 1960,
Delta
rockets have been launched successfully over 200 times. Scientific
satellites placed into orbit by a Delta rocket include
IUE,
COBE,
LAGEOS-I,
ROSAT,
EUVE,
GEOTAIL, and
WIND.
A Delta rocket is scheduled to launch the
X-ray
Timing Explorer Satellite (XTE) in the very near future.
Commercial launches include
INMARSAT.
Many recent Delta launches have placed
Navstar
Global Positioning
System satellites into orbit. Delta rockets are manufactured for the
USAF and NASA by
McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co.