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.

Boeing Launch Services Inc., based in Huntington Beach, Calif., is the
sales, marketing and contracting organization that supports the Boeing Delta
and Sea Launch family of launch vehicles for all Boeing customers.

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 $25 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.