Boeing Follows Delta III Loss With Delta II Launch

Boeing Co. said a Delta II rocket carrying five Iridium World Communications Ltd. satellites was launched successfully Tuesday, 13 days after a Delta III rocket exploded.

The satellites were scheduled to separate from the rocket 62 minutes after takeoff and begin their 12-day move into low-orbit positions, Boeing and Iridium said. The Delta II launch was rescheduled from Friday after lightning damaged a tracking station Thursday.

The Delta II is a slightly smaller version of the Delta III rocket, which exploded Aug. 26 on its maiden flight, destroying a PanAmSat Corp. telecommunications satellite. Tuesday’s launch is intended to keep the Iridium global communication network on schedule to start service Sept. 23 and avoid further delays in Boeing’s Delta program.

Boeing’s space operations are based in Huntington Beach.