Tim Furniss/LONDON
Boeing's Delta III booster has been hit by an orders slump, with no commercial launches until June 2002. The launcher could be phased out when the Delta IV becomes available.
The vehicle has made three flights, with two failures - the loss of the Galaxy X and Orion 3 satellites in May 1998 and August 1999 - and one successful demonstration launch on 23 August.
The Delta III has been assigned a Boeing Satellite Systems-built ICO communications satellite for launch in 2002, but has not been allocated any other firm payloads.
The first commercial geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite launch by a Delta vehicle since the successful flight of Bonum 1 aboard a Delta II in November 1998 is likely to be made by the Delta IV Medium booster late next year, carrying an as yet unidentified spacecraft.
The Delta IV fleet is being built under an Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) contract, but will also offer a commercial service for payloads in the 4-13t range by 2003.
The Delta III was introduced, with Boeing funding, to increase the payload capability of the workhorse Delta II to 3t. Delays caused by the failures, during which communications satellites have become larger, mean that the Delta III is now undersized .
There will be a short overlap of the Delta III and IV "while the market determines when we phase out the Delta III", says Boeing. The manufacturer is contracted to launch 11 Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS) satellites, including five launches of ICO spacecraft. Six other BSS launches and five launches for Space Systems Loral are yet to be assigned.
Boeing admits that for commercial launches next year, "there is a more than adequate supply of proven launchers". The company received its last commercial GEO satellite launch contract last year for a launch in mid-2002, with the satellite remaining "proprietary".
Boeing has been hit commercially by the Delta III difficulties. Several contracts have gone to Arianespace and International Launch Services, although the lifting capability of the Delta III would not have made it compatible with all of these payloads.
"The successful DMF3 demonstration flight has renewed market interest in the Delta III," says Boeing. "We are active in the marketplace with the Delta III and IV."
For non-GEO launches, however, Boeing has over 50 government launches booked primarily for the Delta II, including continuing flights of Navstar GPS satellites and NASA payloads. Last year, the Delta II launched 18 non-GEO spacecraft, including 12 Globalstar satellites in three launches.
Boeing is also the major investor in the Sea Launch venture which operates a Russian-Ukrainian Zenit 3SL booster from the Odyssey equatorial offshore launch platform.
Source: Flight International
