Boeing to Return Delta IV to Comsat Market

According to 3/24/05 Wall Street Journal, Dan Collins,
VP of Boeing ELV business, said that Delta IV will
be offered once again for commercial comsat launches
by the end of 2005. Boeing had held the rocket out
of the commercial market since mid 2003.

The gist of the story is that the Air Force, which
has poured out gobs of extra money to support both
EELVs, has been pressuring Boeing to get commercial
money flowing into the Delta IV program. Lockheed's
commercial success with Atlas V is making the EELV
setup a bit lopsided, requiring Boeing to ask for
more Pentagon money than Lockheed to keep EELV
afloat.

The report says that post-Stonecipher Boeing has
decided to make a real effort to return its space
divisions to profitability. The company has stopped
its announced Decatur layoffs and is expected to win
roughly half of the lucrative EELV-pie up for grabs
this year.

- Ed Kyle