A U.S. Air Force Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) spacecraft built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] was launched successfully Monday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., aboard a Boeing-built [NYSE: BA] Delta IV launch vehicle.

The launch marked the first mission for the Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program and the second overall for the Delta IV. The satellite is the 13th of 14 built by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. military and will join 12 other DSCS satellites currently on orbit. The final DSCS III satellite, designated B6, will launch in summer 2003.