Boeing

At a press conference today in Cocoa Beach, Fla., Boeing [NYSE: BA] launch officials announced that the first launch of the Boeing Delta IV has been delayed from it's scheduled Sat., Nov. 16 launch date. Pending final review of additional technical data involving the rocket's upper stage engine, the RL10B-2, the launch will occur no earlier than Tues., Nov. 19.

Dan Collins, vice president of the Boeing Delta program, said that in order to allow engineers sufficient time to assess data recently received from Pratt & Whitney, the RL10B-2's developer, the Delta team needed additional time to understand the data to confirm that the upper-stage engine aboard the Delta IV vehicle is ready for a successful flight.

"Having reviewed the new data late Thursday, Boeing engineers were unable to complete their assessment in order to support the Saturday launch window," Collins said. "The launch team will work through the weekend to resolve remaining questions in order to take advantage of the next launch window on Tuesday."

Tuesday's launch window opens at 5:39 p.m. EST and lasts for 70 minutes. The Boeing Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) rocket will deliver the W5 commercial telecommunications satellite to space for Eutelsat S.A. of France.