Heard On The Beat

Taking Off: Boeing Co.’s Delta III rocket is scheduled to make its maiden trip into space this afternoon from Florida’s Cape Canaveral, carrying with it many components built in Southern California, including the Galaxy X satellite, which will be released into orbit.

“Maiden launches are like the first flight of a new airplane,” said Keith Takahashi, spokesman for Boeing’s Expendable Launch Systems unit in Huntington Beach. “There is a lot riding on it, and potential customers are watching to see how it’s going to perform.”

To date, Boeing has booked 18 launch orders for the Delta III, including 13 for satellites built by Hughes Space & Communications in El Segundo.

The new expendable rocket, in development before McDonnell Douglas was purchased by Boeing, was designed to handle the larger satellites gaining favor in the commercial communications market.

“It’s probably one of the largest U.S. launch vehicles that was developed completely with corporate money, without government funding,” Takahashi said.

Galaxy X, owned by Greenwich, Conn.-based PanAmSat and built by Hughes, will provide broadcast and telecommunications coverage to the U.S. and Caribbean.