Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II Published Dec. 8, 2007 By 051208 VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg AFB successfully launched a Delta II rocket today at 6:31 p.m. The rocket took off from Space Launch Complex-2 carrying the Thales Alenia-Space COSMO-SkyMed 2 Satellite. Col. Steve Tanous, 30th Space Wing commander, was the spacelift commander for this mission, or final go-for-launch authority. "This was the second successful COSMO-SkyMed launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base this year," Colonel Tanous said. "It takes a great deal of communications and teamwork to make a launch happen and the use of the Western Range by our Italian partners is rewarding for Team Vandenberg." The Delta II is an expendable launch, medium-lift vehicle. It carries civil and commercial payloads into low-earth, polar, geosynchronous transfer and stationary orbits. The COSMO-SkyMed 2 satellite is an end-to-end Earth observation dual-use (civilian and military) system composed of four satellites and ground stations. For more information about the COSMO-SkyMed spacecraft, call Francesca Sette from Thales Alenia-Space at +39 335 7252878. For more information about the Delta II, contact Mike Rein from United Launch Alliance at (321) 693-6250. Questions concerning Boeing can be forwarded to Susan Wells at (321) 446-4970.