The 13-foot-diameter by 19-foot-long composite interstage houses the Delta III's second-stage cryogenic engine during the rocket's liftoff and first-stage flight. Technicians mounted the interstage on a simulated 13-foot-diameter fuel tank for the test conducted at Boeing North American's 32,000-cubic-foot facility in Seal Beach, Calif. Graphite composite material saves weight and makes interstage manufacturing more efficient by reducing the number of parts.

According to Mike Kennedy, program manager for Delta III, "The testing validated predicted dynamic environments for the first- and second-stage hardware protected by the interstage. We are planning additional Delta III hardware qualification tests for later this year and are on track with schedule and budget for our first Delta III launch next year."

Delta III's first customer is Hughes Space and Communications International, Inc. (HSCI), which contracted in 1995 for 10 launches and has since exercised options for three more. The vehicles are to provide all units of Hughes Electronics Corporation and customers of satellite builder Hughes Space and Communications Company with access to space.

The first Delta III launch will be Galaxy X, for Hughes Communications, Inc., in 1998. HSCI also has designated five launches for satellites for ICO Global Communications beginning in 1999. In January, Hughes received another order for a Delta III launch from its Orion customer, on behalf of Orion Asia Pacific Corp., scheduled for November 1998. Satellites for all three companies are versions of Hughes' HS 601 model, which weigh around three tons at launch.

Hughes Electronics is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial communications satellites, having built 40 percent of those in operation. The earnings of Hughes Electronics are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to GMH (NYSE symbol) common stock.

McDonnell Douglas has contracts for 18 Delta III launches between 1998 and 2002 including a total of 13, plus options, from HSCI.