Vandenberg Airmen launch Delta II rocket Published June 20, 2008 VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- Vandenberg Air Force Base officials successfully launched a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 12:46 a.m. June 20 here. The rocket carried the OSTM/Jason-2 Satellite into an 830-mile near-circular orbit. Col. Steve Tanous, the 30th Space Wing commander, was the spacelift commander for this mission. "This launch is a testament to the tremendous team effort between NASA, the 30th Space Wing and our industry partners," Colonel Tanous said. "We have one opportunity to be successful with each launch and 100 percent mission success is our standard." The primary role of the spacecraft will be to measure and gather information about ocean topography. The OSTM/Jason-2 Satellite will provide new perspectives on Earth's oceans using the five instruments it has aboard. 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. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page