Delta IVH - this can't make Seattle happy . . .

From SpaceFlightNow.com

"The Boeing Delta 4-Heavy rocket appears to have experienced
lower-than-expected performance during its initial ascent today,
forcing its upper stage engine to compensate and raising doubts about
the mission's chances for success, sources indicate.

While it's not yet clear what might have caused the three Common
Booster Core rockets to provide less total lift than anticipated or
even whether the problem involved the central CBC or the two
strap-ons. But the end result was the upper stage fired much longer
than expected, using up more super-cold rocket fuel than planned.

The upper stage has since fired a second time, reaching a
geosynchronous transfer orbit that was close to the projected
altitude. A final burn scheduled for 10:27 p.m. EST would boost the
stage and DemoSat dummy payload into the target orbit. However, if the
upper stage does not have enough fuel remaining to complete the
three-minute burn, the rocket will fall short of its intended orbit.

The purpose of this mission was testing the Delta 4-Heavy before the
Air Force begins launching national security payloads on the big
booster starting next summer.

We will post additional information as available."

Anyone close to the program want to venture a guess or offer informed
speculation?

--
Herb Schaltegger, B.S., J.D.
"Wow! This is like saying when engineers get involved, harmonic
oscillations tear apart bridges."
~Hop David
http://www.angryherb.net