An artist's concept of a DSCS satellite in space. Photo: Lockheed Martin

Boeing officials have announced that the U.S. Air Force has assigned a second launch of a Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) satellite aboard a Boeing Delta 4 rocket.

The DSCS-3 A3 satellite will be deployed by a Boeing Delta 4 Medium expendable launch vehicle. The launch is scheduled for the second quarter of 2003 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

"The selection by the Air Force to launch another DSCS satellite on our Delta 4 expresses continued confidence by the Air Force in the Delta 4 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 2, we continue to extend our launch services to our Delta 4 vehicles."

The Boeing Delta 4 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 3/Delta 4 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 4 and its new RS-68 main engine to the international marketplace."

The U.S. Air Force Space Command operates 10 Phase 3 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 4 in 2002, and is 50 percent sold out for 2003. First flight of the Delta 4 is scheduled for Spring of 2002.