A Boeing Delta
II rocket launched the latest additions to the Iridium satellite
constellation Monday from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. at 9:44
a.m. PST.

The Delta II launch vehicle deployed five satellites into
low-Earth orbit to serve as spares for Iridium Satellite’s worldwide
communications network. Monday’s launch of IS-1 marks the first Delta
mission of 2002 and the 101st Boeing Delta II mission since 1989.

The first satellite was placed into orbit 62 minutes into the
mission, followed by the other four within 23 minutes. “We’ve teamed
with Iridium since the early 1990s and the Delta II team is proud to
add to the constellation again,” said Jay Witzling, vice president and
deputy program manager of Delta and Titan programs. “I’ve been in this
business for many years, and have seen many launches, but it’s still a
thrill to see the rocket fly and to place a customer’s spacecraft
successfully into its proper orbit.”

To date, Boeing Delta II launch vehicles have successfully placed
60 of Iridium’s satellites into orbit, starting with the initial
launch in May 1997. The Boeing Delta team also has extensive
experience with dual and multiple payload missions for government and
commercial customers. Recent dual payload Delta II missions include
Jason-1/TIMED and E0-1/SAC-C.

Iridium Satellite LLC provides global satellite voice and data
solutions with complete coverage of the Earth (including oceans,
airways and Polar Regions). Through a constellation of 66 low-Earth
orbiting (LEO) satellites operated by Boeing, Iridium delivers
essential communications services to and from remote areas where no
other form of communication is available.

“In the past two years, the constellation has not required the use
of any in-orbit spare,” said Dannie Stamp, chief operating officer of
Iridium Satellite LLC. “Through a robust architecture and a
highly skilled team of operators and engineers, the reliability of the
Iridium satellite constellation is far exceeding original design
predictions.”

The service is ideally suited for industries such as maritime,
aviation, government/military, emergency/humanitarian services,
mining, forestry, oil & gas and heavy construction. Iridium currently
provides service to the U.S. Department of Defense under a multi-year
contract. Iridium works with more than 20 service partners to sell and
support the service globally.

In December 2000, Iridium Satellite LLC acquired the assets of
Iridium LLC including the satellite constellation, terrestrial
network, Iridium real property and intellectual capital. The next
Delta II launch is a U.S. Air Force Global Positioning Satellite from
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Boeing Space and Communications
(S&C), with headquarters in Seal Beach, is the world’s largest space
and communications company.

A unit of The Boeing Co., S&C provides integrated solutions in
launch services, human space flight and exploration, missile defense,
and information and communications. It is NASA’s largest contractor; a
leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems
integrator for U.S. missile defense; and a leading provider of
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The global enterprise
has customers worldwide and manufacturing operations throughout the
United States and Australia.

IS-1 mission Web site:
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/delta/delta2/is-1/