Contact:

Christine Nelson
McDonnell Douglas
Pager: (800) 759-8888, PIN 1738783
(805) 688-3121

McDonnell Douglas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ADVISORY TO NEWS AND ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

DELTA II LAUNCH RESCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, MAY 5

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., May 4, 1997 -- Today's launch of a McDonnell Douglas [NYSE: MD] Delta II launch vehicle carrying five IRIDIUM® system communications satellites has been rescheduled for Monday, May 5, 1997. The five-second launch window opens at 7:55:29 a.m. PDT. Satellite TV coordinates for the launch are SBS-6 Transponder 9 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. PDT.

There will be a post-launch media briefing two hours after liftoff at the Spaceport Inn, 3955 Apollo Way, Lompoc, Calif.

Media not attending the launch can participate via a teleconference at 10:15 a.m. PDT. A reservation must be made in advance by calling American Teleconferencing at (800) 289-0579 for United States media and (719) 386-0025 for media calls originating from outside the United States. Reference the Iridium post-launch press conference. The revised dial-in number the day of the launch is (800) 967-7140 for United States media and (719) 448-2000 for those outside the United States. Reference number 334870.

Representatives from McDonnell Douglas, Motorola and Iridium will be present at the press conference.

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