NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) is embarking on a three-year mission to measure the ice of Earth's frozen and icy areas after a successful liftoff today at 6:02 a.m. PDT (9:02 a.m. EDT) from Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The spacecraft was delivered to Earth orbit by …
NASA's ICESat-2 spacecraft deployed its four solar panels and is drawing power, indicating it is healthy upon its arrival in orbit. The spacecraft launched on the final flight of the United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket, lifting off from Space Launch Complex-2 at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base at 6:02 a.m. PDT (9:02 a.m. EDT). …
P-PODs 2 and 3, with their ELFIN B, DAVE and SurfSat CubeSat payloads have been successfully deployed.
The first of three P-PODs (Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployers) has deployed its payload, the ELFIN A CubeSat. P-PODs 2 and 3 are coming up!
The Delta II rocket's second stage has completed its third burn, a brief pulse lasting just a few seconds. The next major milestones will be the deployments of the ELaNa XVIII CubeSats, which are housed inside deployers mounted on the second stage.
NASA's ICESat-2 spacecraft has separated from the United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket's second stage following a successful climb to space that began with liftoff at 6:02 a.m. PDT (9:02 a.m. EDT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The second stage engine has shut down following its second burn. Separation of the ICESat-2 spacecraft is coming up.
Wide view of the liftoff of the United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket carrying NASA’s ICESat-2 spacecraft. Image credit: NASA TV
The Delta II rocket's second stage engine has completed its first burn. The rocket and ICESat-2 spacecraft are entering a 36-minute coast phase.
The Delta II rocket's first stage engine completed its burn on time and separated from the vehicle. The second stage engine is burning now. The payload fairing separated on schedule, exposing the ICESat-2 satellite to the space environment for the first time.
