The Huntsville Times May 06, 2003
Aerospace experts: Delta IV work here too important to be stopped
By Shelby G. Spires
A government probe into Boeing Co.'s rocket program probably won't affect work at Boeing's Decatur plant, because the Alabama-made Delta IV is still the only American rocket that can lift heavy payloads into space, industry experts said Monday.
The Delta IV - built by Boeing in Decatur - is deemed a national security asset needed to place Air Force spy satellites into space. That makes it a vital commodity the government is not likely to do without, said Charles Vick, a senior analyst and space expert with GlobalSecurity.org.
"I don't see much, if anything, coming out of an investigation," Vick said. "The government might change things when this program is recompeted, but other than that, what can they do?"
The Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program, initiated in 1994 to lower the cost of launching military payloads, is scheduled to be rebid after 2006.
The Air Force and the Department of Justice have launched separate investigations into allegations that Boeing, while developing its Delta IV rocket, used technology and plans stolen from its chief competitor, Lockheed Martin Corp. Boeing officials have confirmed they are cooperating with an investigation, but have declined further comment.
John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org, said many times investigations into major defense contractors result "in nothing more than a slap on the wrist," and in some case a few people might face fines or jail time. Major program changes generally don't sprout out of investigations.
"It's unlikely anything would happen to Delta IV program as a whole," Pike said. "Individuals would get fired or go to jail, but that normally doesn't have impact on entire work force."
Boeing built the $450 million rocket plant in Decatur to produce the booster segments of the Delta IV. To reduce costs, Boeing also has recently moved manufacturing of key Delta II parts to Decatur. About 500 people currently work at the Decatur plant.
Launch industry watchers say Boeing's Delta program is critical not only to the Air Force, but to NASA's launch of unmanned probes and as a potential launch vehicle for NASA's planned Orbital Space Plane. That means the government is unlikely to force Boeing shutter the Delta plant in Decatur any time soon, Vick said.
Vick said the Air Force relies solely on the Delta IV heavy-lift rocket to place spy satellites into orbit. There are eight major military payloads set to be launched by Delta rockets over the next two years, and Boeing has the contract for 22 of the Air Force's 29 launches over the next five years.
The Delta IV is also the only American rocket that could take crew members to the International Space Station.
"The Delta IV is extremely critical to NASA and the Air Force because it is the only launch vehicle that can be used for programs that are critical and, in some cases, behind," schedule, Vick said.
The Delta IV-Orbital Space Plane combination is seen as a reliable and cheaper way to ferry crew and small amounts of cargo to the space station. A Delta IV launch is estimated to cost between $80 to $150 million. A single space shuttle ride to the station costs more than $500 million.
Copyright © 2003, The Huntsville Times
