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Launch Vehicle

OCO-2 launched on July 2, 2014, from Space Launch Complex 2W at Vandenberg Air Force Base, carried into orbit by a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta II 7320-10C rocket. NASA had selected the Delta II for the mission in July 2012 following a competitive launch services procurement.

The Delta II had one of the most distinguished reliability records in American launch history. First entering service in 1989, the vehicle completed 155 flights over nearly three decades, including 100 consecutive successful launches. In addition to OCO-2, the Delta II launched a wide range of NASA science missions including Mars Pathfinder, the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, SMAP, and ICESat-2. The Delta II flew its final mission, ICESat-2, on September 15, 2018, and is now retired.

Delta II 7320-10CA view of the Delta II 7320-10C launch vehicle looking into the nozzle end of one of the three GEM (Graphite Epoxy Motors) that serve to double the thrust of the rocket to more than 500,000 lbf. Photo courtesy of Steve Greenburg.

Delta II 7320-10C

A view of the Delta II 7320-10C launch vehicle looking into the nozzle end of one of the three GEM (Graphite Epoxy Motors) that serve to double the thrust of the rocket to more than 500,000 lbf. Photo courtesy of Steve Greenburg.



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