A Boeing [NYSE: BA] Delta II rocket successfully
launched the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) and the Cosmic
Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer Satellite (CHIPSat) today in a dual
primary payload mission for NASA.

The Delta II lifted off at 4:45 p.m. PST from Space Launch Complex 2W,
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., delivering both satellites to circular
polar orbits.

ICESat was deployed first at one-hour and four minutes into flight, followed
by CHIPSat that was deployed 19 minutes and 20 seconds later. A Delta II
7320-10 launch vehicle with a Reduced Height Dual Payload Attach Fitting
(RH-DPAF) was used for the mission. The RH-DPAF enables two satellites of
different sizes to be launched aboard the same rocket. ICESat/CHIPSat marks
the third dual primary payload mission launched aboard a Delta II rocket for
NASA. The other two were EO-1/SAC-C on Nov. 21, 2000 and Jason-1/TIMED on
Dec. 7, 2001.

“I’d like to thank the Delta team for another mission success. The excellent
cooperation between the many industry and government participants involved
in this mission made this achievement possible. I look forward to the
opportunities in 2003 to add to our string of 49 consecutive successful
Delta II missions as we continue to provide reliable launch services for our
customers,” said Jay Witzling, vice president and Delta deputy program
manager.

The next Delta II mission is GPS IIR-8 for the U.S. Air Force on Jan. 29
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The next Delta II launch for
NASA is the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) aboard the new Delta
II Heavy in April from Cape Canaveral. The Delta II Heavy uses nine 46-inch
diameter Alliant Techsystems solid rocket motors designed for the Delta III,
that add 25 percent more thrust capability for the Delta II.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Integrated Defense Systems is one of the
world’s largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis,
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $23 billion business. It provides
systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial
customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance; the world’s largest military aircraft manufacturer; the
world’s largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based
communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense;
NASA’s largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.