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Boeing Tests Critical Components for Advanced Rocket Engine

ST. LOUIS, May 15, 2002 - Boeing (NYSE:BA) has successfully tested a
state-of-the-art liquid oxygen turbopump, marking a significant step
forward in the development of next-generation rocket engine
technology. 

A team comprised of Boeing Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power, U.S. Air
Force, and NASA personnel conducted the hot-fire testing at NASA's
John C. Stennis Space Center, Miss. Boeing Rocketdyne designs,
develops and manufactures rocket propulsion and space power systems
including the Space Shuttle Main Engine and the RS-68 and RS-27A
engines for the Boeing Delta family of launch vehicles.

The test, one of nine planned, followed a related series of hot-fire
tests in which a Boeing Rocketdyne-built pre-burner that provides
oxygen-rich gasses to the oxidizer turbopump turbine drive went "six
for six" in the series. The Rocketdyne pre-burner was subsequently
attached to the new oxidizer turbopump for testing. Both test series
were conducted for the Air Force Research Laboratory's Integrated
Powerhead Demonstration (IPD). 

Bob Brengle, IPD program manager for Boeing Rocketdyne, said "We've
combined proven technologies with exciting new innovations in the
component including hydrostatic bearings that are virtually
frictionless. In addition, a number of the internal parts use a new
material that will help provide superior performance. We anticipate
excellent performance, even in the oxygen-rich environment where it
will do its work." 

Upon completion of the hot-fire test series, the oxidizer turbopump
will become part of the IPD engine system and help to provide
advancement of key technologies that could find application in future
Air Force rocket applications or NASA's Next Generation Launch
Technology program.

"For its part, the pre-burner that we tested is the first
large-scale, oxidizer-rich type to be developed and hot-fire tested
in the U.S.," added Brengle. "Smaller ones have been tested at Boeing
facilities, but this series of tests is a first of this magnitude.
The goal of the test series was to characterize the pre-burner's
behavior prior to its connection to the turbopump."

Jeff Thornburg, Air Force Research Laboratory's IPD project manager
concurred. "The IPD program supports the Department of Defense's
Integrated High Performance Rocket Propulsion Technology (IHPRPT)
program, whose goal is to satisfy our Phase One milestones for
doubling the capability of boost engines for access to space," said
Thornburg. "IPD has also demonstrated a very successful partnership
between the Air Force Research Laboratory, Boeing, and NASA's Stennis
Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center." 

The IHPRPT program is a coordinated effort between the Department of
Defense, NASA and industry to develop revolutionary and innovative
technologies by the year 2010 that will generate significant
enhancements of rocket propulsion capabilities over current
state-of-the-art technologies.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Integrated Defense Systems is one 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 launch services. 

###

May 2003

Contact:
John Mitchell
Boeing Rocketdyne
(818) 586-4564
john.k.mitchell{at}boeing.com

Madonna Walsh
Boeing IDS News Bureau
(314) 234-1362
madonna.a.walsh{at}boeing.com

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