"Ed Kyle" wrote in
oups.com:

Allen Thomson wrote:
http://aviationnow.ecnext.com/free-s...ge=aw_document
&article=02215top

Aviation Week & Space Technology
Trial By Fire
02/20/2005 01:42:58 PM
By Craig Covault

Lots of good info in this article. The best bits a

1) "The Delta IV is the only launch vehicle that, by
design, sets itself on fire during its ignition sequence."

Completely peculiar to the current design of the RS-68;
Rocketdyne might be asked to Do Something About It.

2) the information that Boeing has added to its catalog
a Delta IV Medium with six solid boosters that will be able
to meet the 20-metric-ton CEV launch mass requirement.
This might be an indication that the company doesn't expect
any more $200 million-a-copy Heavy launches after those
currently planned.

Man-rating a Medium D-IV with six solids might be interesting.
The astronaut's office is reported not happy with the prospect.
I wonder if they might go with two larger solids side-by-side.
The Heavy will still have the option of being built as needed,
when needed, and I think that could prove more often than
most do.

Significant payload gains with minimum changes, too. Now if
Boeing can just get the cost of the Heavy down, and keep it
there.

--Damon