"The EELV program is poised to provide more affordable and reliable access to space for the United States," said Acting Air Force Secretary Whit Peters last fall. The plan is to eventually save as much as 50 percent over the cost of the "heritage" systems of Delta, Atlas and Titan rockets.

EELV development also represents a new approach to space-launch funding. In essence, the Air Force is buying launch services, not launch vehicles. Lockheed Martin and Boeing are each providing their own EELV versions to the Air Force, right down to different pad sites at each coast. Partnering with industry to develop the new launch capability satisfies government requirements, reduces space launch costs and greatly improves operability.

"EELV will provide cost savings of at least 25 percent initially and has the potential to reach up to 50 percent over the life of the program," said Maj. Tom Steele, EELV command lead for Air Force Space Command.

The future system will use standardized launch vehicle families instead of different versions of three heritage systems, a single launch pad design, design reliability and completely standardized set up and launch procedures and equipment. These translate into significant savings over current heritage systems, according to the major.

"With the life of the program expected to run through 2020, these numbers are significant, equating to a projected savings of $5 billion to $10 billion," Steele said.

But the dollar savings are only part of the story. The design reliability portion also represents a desire to acquire safer, more responsive and reliable launch vehicles.

"We're looking at a 98 percent design reliability," Steele said, describing the key performance parameter condition set forth in the operational requirement document.

"The initial launch services cover the period from 2002 to 2006 and a total of 28 launches, with Boeing receiving a contract for 19 launches and $1.38 billion, while Lockheed Martin's contract is for nine launches at $649 million," he added.

EELV design and development began in 1995, with the first commercial launch planned for 2001 and the first government (medium lift) launch set for the following year. Steele said if all goes according to plan, the EELV will replace the heritage systems completely by 2006.

"It's possible the system could come on line early to meet some commercial launch needs prior to government flights," he said. "The sooner a less-expensive and more reliable launcher is proven, the better for the military and commercial interests awaiting their chance at the launch pads.

"However, this early operational capability is not a government requirement, and targeting government missions for early transition is not in our plan at this time," he added.

EELV represents a major step forward in the commercial use of space and ensures the Unites States remains a world-class commercial space launch provider, according to Steele.

"The partnering with Boeing, Lockheed-Martin and the Air Force, having each invested $1 billion in EELV development costs, means the United States -- military and civilian -- will enter the 21st century with very capable, affordable expendable launch technology," said Peters.

In the shadow of some recent amazing feats such as international space station construction and reorbiting an aging American space hero, development and ultimate use of the EELV represents yet another step in the conquest of space. The experts agree that the next chapter of American space launch ingenuity can mean a bright future for military and commercial use of that final frontier, well into the next century.