Boeing
officials today announced the U.S. Air Force has assigned a
second launch of a Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS)
satellite aboard a Boeing Delta IV rocket.

The DSCS III A3 satellite will be deployed by a Boeing Delta IV
Medium expendable launch vehicle. The launch is scheduled for the
second quarter of 2003 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

“The selection by the Air Force to launch another DSCS satellite
on our Delta IV expresses continued confidence by the Air Force in the
Delta IV program,” said Tom Parkinson, division director of U.S.
government sales for Boeing Delta Launch Services. “Having launched
numerous national security payloads for the government aboard our
Delta II, we continue to extend our launch services to our Delta IV
vehicles.”

The Boeing Delta IV Medium is a single common booster core launch
vehicle with a 4-meter fairing and is capable of lifting approximately
9,285 pounds (4,210 kg) to geosynchronous transfer orbit.

“We’re very pleased with the great job Boeing has done integrating
our first DSCS III/Delta IV mission,” said Col. Robert Saxer, U.S. Air
Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle system program director. “The
Boeing Delta team has also made tremendous progress bringing the Delta
IV and its new RS-68 main engine to the international marketplace.”

The U.S. Air Force Space Command operates 10 Phase III DSCS
satellites providing 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.

Boeing has sold out all four launches of the Delta IV in 2002, and
is 50 percent sold out for 2003. First flight of the Delta IV is
scheduled for Spring of 2002.

The Boeing Company, headquartered in Seattle, is the largest
aerospace company in the world and the United States’ leading
exporter. It is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial
jetliners and military aircraft, and the largest NASA contractor. The
company’s capabilities in aerospace also include rotorcraft,
electronic and defense systems, missiles, rocket engines, launch
vehicles, satellites, and advanced information and communication
systems. The company has an extensive global reach with customers in
145 countries and manufacturing operations throughout the United
States, Canada and Australia.