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Boeing Delta IV Completes First Mission for U.S. Air Force
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ST. LOUIS, Mar. 10, 2003 - A Boeing [NYSE: BA] 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.

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Contact:

Robert Villanueva (714) 372-2089
Communications (714) 896-1301
Boeing Launch Hotline (714) 896-4770

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