Common Booster Core For Delta IV Reaches Major Milestone

The RS-68 engine undergoing hot fire tests at NASA's Stennis Space Center

Huntington Beach - March 19, 2001
The Common Booster Core (CBC) for the Boeing Delta IV family of rockets successfully passed a critical test on Saturday. Boeing engineers say the results mark a major milestone for the Delta IV program, which is targeting early 2002 for its inaugural launch.

Engineers conducted the first in a series of hot-fire tests on the CBC. They ignited the Boeing-built Rocketdyne RS-68 engine for 15 seconds, generating the equivalent of 14 million horsepower.

"We are conducting extensive tests on a fully integrated CBC prior to its inaugural launch next year," said Dan Collins, vice president of Delta and Titan programs for Boeing." From the propulsion to the hydraulics to the avionics, we exercised these systems together to make certain the integrated components and systems function properly."

"The test firings will include a five-and-a-half minute full flight duration test where the CBC goes through sequences and events of an actual flight. The test program is designed to substantially reduce the risk in launching a new vehicle," added Collins.

Saturday's test comes on the heels of a string of successful RS-68 engine tests. The tests have validated the Delta IV main engine's performance, and also successfully addressed turbo pump issues identified last year.

The Delta team has put nearly 1,000 seconds of test time on an RS-68 engine that has incorporated the modified fuel turbo pumps. The RS-68 has performed as expected completing full mission duration testing for the Delta IV Medium and Delta IV Heavy flight profiles.

The Delta IV Heavy profile test included a 10 percent time reserve and lasted more than 360 seconds. The tests were followed by comprehensive inspections of the turbo pump assemblies, which confirmed the structural integrity of the turbo pump.

The RS-68 tests and the CBC test are tangible evidence that Boeing has overcome all issues seen to date and is on track for a commercial launch in early 2002.

The CBC allows all five variants of the Delta IV family of rockets to use common systems and assemblies. This permits Boeing to consistently produce a quality vehicle by using a single set of processes and procedures. The CBC consists of a 656,000 lb. thrust main engine, liquid-oxygen and liquid-hydrogen tanks, and avionics.

For Boeing Delta customers, this provides a cost effective, quality and reliable launch vehicle. The Delta IV family of rockets is capable of lifting payloads ranging from 9,285 pounds (4,210 kg) to 28,950 pounds (13,130 kg) to geosynchronous transfer orbit.

SPACEMART

Boeing Delta IV to Deliver Defense System Satellite in 2003

Huntington Beach - Jan. 10, 2001
Boeing will launch a U.S. Air Force defense satellite aboard a Delta IV rocket in 2003. The satellite, DMSP-17, will be launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base and is part of a 22-launch U.S. government manifest for payloads aboard Delta IV rockets.