Boeing Launch Services is a customer-focused subsidiary that provides business development, sales, procurement and program management of Delta launch services for commercial customers.

Delta launch systems provide commercial satellite customers high-quality, reliable launch services to meet the demands of commercial payload's increasing launch rate requirements. Delta rockets are built by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, to a single standard of quality for U.S. government and commercial customers.

Boeing has vast experience in accommodating a variety of mission-specific launch requirements including communications, scientific, remote sensing, multiple manifest and auxiliary payload. Whether the payload needs to be delivered to low Earth orbit, geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), or inserted directly to geosynchronous Earth orbit, BLS is the single point of contact for a reliable, dedicated commercial launch solution.

Customers

• Thales Alenia Space procured four Delta II launches for their COSMO SkyMed program. The first of four Italian Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation (COSMO) SkyMed spacecraft launched in June 2007 aboard a Delta II rocket. The second spacecraft launched in December 2007 and the third in October 2008.
• DigitalGlobe's WorldView-1 and 2 satellites launched on a Delta II rocket in September 2007 and October 2009.
• The GeoEye-1 spacecraft was delivered successfully by a Delta II rocket to its intended orbit in September 2008.
• NASA's GOES-O satellite was launched on a Delta IV in June 2009.

Background

Delta II is the workhorse of the small medium-lift launch industry. Two-stage Delta II rockets typically fly LEO missions, while three-stage Delta II vehicles generally deliver payloads to GTO or can be used for planetary and deep-space exploration.

Delta IV, the most advanced Delta rocket, is capable of launching medium to heavy payloads. Its multiple configurations provide performance flexibility and are centered around a Common Booster Core (CBC), cryogenic first stage. The Delta IV launch vehicle performance and launch site flexibility enables the launch payloads to virtually any earth orbit and planetary mission.

The Delta II, since its debut in 1989, has delivered 145 successful missions. Boeing has commercial launch service contracts in place for Delta II through the end of 2010. There are four total Delta II missions on ULA's manifest (U.S. Government plus commercial) and five additional vehicles available.

Delta IV, the most advanced Delta rocket, was introduced in 2002 and has demonstrated 100% success, including successful launches of the Heavy configuration.