The Delta II lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 2 at 7:55 a.m. PDT, boosting the satellites into orbit.

The IRIDIUM system is designed to be a constellation of 66 satellites in low-Earth orbit. They will provide a satellite-based wireless personal communications network permitting any type of telephone transmission, including voice, data, fax and paging to reach its destination virtually anywhere on Earth, anytime.

Worldwide commercial service availability is planned for late 1998, when the entire network is scheduled to be operational.

"We expect this system to greatly benefit users in all parts of the world," said Jay L. Witzling, McDonnell Douglas' division director of Delta II and Titan programs. "Today's launch marks a significant milestone in the Delta II program and the Iridium plan to allow businesses and individuals around the globe to communicate with each other efficiently and easily," he added.

"This launch is the culmination of nearly five and a half years' work by McDonnell Douglas, Iridium LLC and Motorola," said Witzling. "It marks a number of historic events, including the first commercial Delta II launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base and the first use of the 10-foot composite fairing for payload protection during launch and ascent.

"The success of this launch is a prime example of McDonnell Douglas' commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. We look forward to providing the same level of excellence in the upcoming IRIDIUM launches," Witzling said.

McDonnell Douglas signed a contract with Motorola in 1994 for eight Delta II launches through the year 1998. In December 1995, the companies signed a separate, but related operations and maintenance contract for five additional Delta II launches scheduled between April 1998 and June 2001. Each satellite is designed to be functional for five to eight years.

The Delta II rocket is manufactured in Huntington Beach, Calif., and assembled in Pueblo, Colo.

The IRIDIUM system is owned by Iridium LLC, an international consortium of 17 investor organizations representing telecommunications and industrial companies worldwide, with Motorola Satellite Communications Group serving as the prime contractor. IRIDIUM is a registered trademark and service mark of Iridium LLC.