Boeing

If a Boeing Delta II rocket launches on its scheduled July 24 launch date, it will share that date in history with the anniversary of the first satellite launch ever at Cape Canaveral Air Station - Bumper #8, launched in 1950.

That means the Delta II slated to launch four Globalstar satellites for the emerging global telephony communications system will kick off the 50th year of rocket launches for the Cape. The launch will also bring the total number of Globalstar satellites on orbit to 32.

The launch will be the fourth Delta II launched within 45 days - the third of four Boeing Delta II launches planned for Globalstar during June, July and August of this year. Boeing launched a total of eight Globalstar satellites into orbit on two separate Delta II launches on June 10 and July 10, and launched NASA's FUSE spacecraft on June 14.

Boeing has called upon its Western Range launch team, headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to assist in meeting the challenges of the aggressive launch campaign.

"Having two separate launch teams is indispensable when we are called upon to help our customers meet their business objectives in a relatively short period of time," said Rich Murphy, Boeing director of Delta launch operations. "Process improvements, which reduced time on the pad, have also made it possible to maintain our ambitious launch schedule."

The Delta team will target one of two three-minute windows on launch day. The first window opens at 4 a.m. EDT, while the second window opens at 6:58 a.m. EDT. The decision to load liquid oxygen and attempt to launch during the first window or to wait for the second window will be made at approximately T-85 minutes in the countdown.

The next Delta II launch for Globalstar is scheduled for mid-August. An additional Delta launch for Globalstar is slated for fourth quarter 1999.

The Delta II is manufactured in Huntington Beach, Calif., with final assembly in Pueblo, Colo., and is powered by the RS-27A engine built by Boeing in Canoga Park, Calif. Alliant Techsystems, Magna, Utah, builds the graphite epoxy motors for boost assist. Aerojet, Sacramento, Calif., manufactures the second-stage engine; and AlliedSignal, Teterboro, N.J., builds the guidance and flight control system.

The Globalstar network is a planned constellation of 48 satellites orbiting at 764 nautical miles (1414 km) above the Earth that will supply global mobile telephony service.

At approximately 2:30 a.m. EDT July 24, the Delta team will decide to load propellant and attempt to launch during the first window, or hold off for a launch attempt during the second window. The results of that decision will be posted to the Boeing launch hotline (714-896-4770) as soon as it becomes available.

Live Satellite Broadcast Feed

Boeing and Loral will broadcast the launch live at 3:45 a.m. EDT. The US satellite Ku-band transmission will be on: Telstar 5, transponder 17 with a vertical polarization. The Ku-band transmission downlink frequency is 12022 MHz. Telstar 5 is located at 97 degrees West.

The European satellite broadcast will be carried on: Intelsat K, on transponder Ku-6H lower. The polarity of the downlink will be horizontal and the frequency will be 11,531.5 MHz. The satellite is located at 338.5 degrees West.

Bars and tone will be broadcast starting at 3:15 a.m. EDT.

99-074

Visit our Delta home page at: ( www.boeing.com/delta).