Neither the House nor the Senate ever specifically gave the green light to using a Delta rocket for the planned test mission.

WSJ: Lockheed Martin Sees Space Capsule Test Flight in 2013

The launch of NASA's Deep Space 1 aboard Boeing Delta 7326 rocket is scheduled for Cape Canaveral, Florida.

CNN: Saturday,

General Dynamics, which built GeoEye-1, has had no problem with its last 10 satellites, while Boeing 's Delta 2 Rocket, set to carry GeoEye-1 into orbit, has a track record of 70 successful launches.

FORBES: In The Beltway Orbit: GeoEye

Joanne Maguire, overall head of the company's space programs, said in an interview that the Orion capsule is slated to blast off on top of a heavy-lift version of the U.S. military's Delta IV rocket.

WSJ: Lockheed Martin Sees Space Capsule Test Flight in 2013

General Dynamics (nyse: GD - news - people ), which built GeoEye-1, has had no problem with its last 10 satellites, while Boeing 's (nyse: BA - news - people ) Delta 2 Rocket, set to carry GeoEye-1 into orbit, has a track record of 70 successful launches.

FORBES: In The Beltway Orbit: GeoEye