Boeing Delta IV Completes First Mission For U.S. Air Force

LAUNCH PAD

Four RocketCam Cameras on Successful Delta IV Launch
A Delta IV rocket carrying the USAF DSCS III-A3 spacecraft was successfully launched at 7:59 EST today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Launch and ascent to orbit occured in the dark; the dramatic spacecraft separation sequence was in the sunlight over southern Africa. The launch action was captured by four onboard RocketCam cameras � more than on any launch vehicle to date. The cameras showed a view of liftoff and ascent looking aft, stage one separation and second stage engine startup looking aft, payload fairing separation looking forward, and spacecraft separation looking forward. Visit here in coming days to view highlights of these RocketCam views. This was the 23rd consecutive launch with RocketCams since 1997 without a failure � 41 cameras in all.

Watch RocketCam Web Clips

St. Louis - Mar 12, 2003
A Boeing Delta IV rocket successfully delivered to space the first satellite for the U.S. Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, or EELV program today. A Delta IV Medium launch vehicle lifted off at 7:59 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., carrying the Defense Satellite Communications System spacecraft, DSCS III A3.

Approximately 42 minutes after liftoff, the Delta IV successfully deployed the spacecraft to a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

"Today's successful launch is a milestone for Boeing and the Delta team," said Will Trafton, vice president and general manager, Boeing Expendable Launch Systems.

"We're proud to begin launch service for the Air Force EELV program, and we're looking forward to three additional Delta IV launches this year that include another DSCS III launch, the first launch of our Delta IV Heavy vehicle, and the first mission from our new launch facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California."

The Delta IV Medium launch vehicle features flight-proven, Boeing-built systems - the Common Booster Core first stage, the Rocketdyne RS-68 main engine, and the four-meter composite payload fairing.

The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing 22 of the 29 initial EELV launch awards.

Boeing is the only EELV contractor to develop a U.S.-built main engine, east and west coast launch facilities, and a Heavy-lift vehicle.

The U.S. Air Force Space Command operates 10 Phase III DSCS satellites that provide defense officials and battlefield commanders secure voice and high rate data communications. The DSCS III system also transmits space operations and early warning data to various systems and users.

The next Delta launch is scheduled aboard a Delta II that will carry a Global Positioning System satellite into orbit for the Air Force later this month from the Cape.

LAUNCH PAD

Boeing to Consolidate Delta Launch Vehicle Manufacturing and Assembly

St. Louis - Mar 03, 2003
Boeing officials announced today that the company is consolidating all Delta launch vehicle manufacturing and assembly in Decatur, Ala. Beginning this summer, Delta launch vehicle assembly now done at its Pueblo, Colo., facility will transfer to the company's Decatur facility where Delta IV production and testing is done. The consolidation should be completed in mid-2004.

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