U.S. Air Force Unshaken by Delta 4 Heavy Performance

摘要

Having had more than two weeks to an-alyze data from the shaky debut of Boeing Co.'s Delta 4 heavy-lift rocket, U.S. Air Force officials remain confident that the vehicle will be able to successfully launch two critical national security satellites later this year. The first of those payloads is the only remaining satellite of the Air Force's Defense Support Program (DSP) missile-warning system, whose replacement is already about six years behind schedule. The second is owned by the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), which buys and operates the nation's spy satellites. Officials with bom organizations reiterated their trust in the Delta 4 Heavy despite the fact that the vehicle failed to place its payload into a sustainable orbit in a Dec. 21 demonstration launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. After the launch, Boeing and the Air Force issued press releases declaring success, with the Air Force asserting that it had no plans to conduct a second demonstration flight.