BBC interview with Elon Musk

On 11/21/2012 5:21 PM, bob haller wrote:
most boosters had their beginnings as ICBMs, where cost really didnt
matter, it was all about fast launch to beat the USSR.

There was no doubt money saved in the early days of spaceflight by using
these prior-art ICBM launchers. However the Moon Program had enough
unique requirements to justify its own booster, the Saturn series,
specifically the Saturn V.

the high ICBM cost are imbeded in the atlas and delta programs, hey
lets use our existing whatever its expensive but why worry its being
paid for by government, and already has a track record.


Well to be fair, back in the 50's and 60's this was definitely new tech.
There weren't a lot of options to choose from. The cost/performance
trade-offs back then evolved over time as other tech became available.

Today we have far more options to choose from than we did back when the
"Space Age" began. Also different design goals. We know now that it can
be done for example. So we focus more on the cost than the performance.

Curious to know the linage of Delta as an ICBM since AFAIK the evolution
of our ICBM fleet went (from Atlas) to Titan to Minuteman II/III (which
are solids).

Can anyone supply further details on the history of the development of
the Delta? (Links or other ref. works always appreciated).

Dave