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Old January 22nd 11, 08:17 PM posted to sci.space.policy
Vincent D DeSimone[_2_]
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Default Delta 4 Heavy Catches Fire

Did anyone happen to see the recent launch of the Delta 4 Heavy from
Vandenberg on YouTube? I thought I noticed flames licking up the side
of the rocket shortly after ignition. It looked as if the yellow/
brown insulating material (which looks the same as the one used on the
space shuttle) had caught fire. See:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGUF1...eature=related

Now, I spotted on Spaceflight Now pictures of the launch that clearly
show a major fire taking place. See:

http://spaceflightnow.com/delta/d352/launch/

The flames had burned the material surrounding one of the core
boosters black and the other two were scorched badly. I'm surprised
that none of the news sites are mentioning this at all. Certainly the
military is not saying anything about it.

I don't remember this happening on any other Delta 4 Heavy launch. It
certainly hasn't happened to the shuttle (if the material is the same).