Seems than planetary science gets more coverage here but just decided to add this topic since an Atlas V 401 was just selected.

What can be inferred from this selection?

Someone needs to update the Wiki page about Atlas V's because it doesn't have an LEO capacity figure for the 401?

Reading some Delta II manifest lists - this sounds like it was pulled from the D2 manifest and moved to the Atlas V. Even the 401 will be an overperformance unless the design has bloated by a factor of 2 - is a secondary payload going to ride as well?

This might have been the last D2 launch - so it seems the end for that vehicle is coming sooner that we might have thought.

Doug

Gee, you're the one with the inside view. An outsider like me might wonder if it was cheaper to move to the more expensive launcher vs. shutting down of the Delta II production line later and keeping the Vandenberg pad warm for the year or 2 after the launch preceding Landsat DCM (which I thought was the last manifested Delta II mission).

I am guessing the Delta II production line is still active. With an earlier shutdown, there may be some expensive long lead hardware that will be scrapped. But that's business.

It was a rhetorical question

The line is active but all the subcontracted hardware was delivered years ago. Keeping an integration, launch team, and pad active costs big bucks and the lost of skills may be significant

Future Discovery and Mars Scout missions will face increased launch costs if they have to buy an Atlas 5 or Delta 4 instead a Delta 2 7925. Here's hoping that Falcon 9 will be successful and reliable. Higher mass margins than a Delta 2 7925 at lower cost would be a boon for future Discovery / Mars Scout missions.