On Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:33:40 -0500, "jonathan"
wrote:


Why not? Delta IV's only failure so far was an underperformance that
would have been easily compensated for by the Orion SM propulsion.
Seems hugely more sensible to me than riding on top of a "shake,
rattle and roll" Ares I.

That may be, but the first launch I watched of the big delta, the only
thought going through my head.....'not for all the tea in China would
I ever get on top of that'!

I'm more and more feeling that way about Ares I. And Atlas V's engine
(or a close cousin) went kablooey on the pad (Sealaunch) a couple of
years ago, so I'm thinking "it's Delta IV for me."

Brian