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kevinforsyth.net
To Reach the High Frontier: A History of U.S. Launch Vehicles
"A valuable contribution to the field of aerospace literature," this book includes an extensive overview of Delta history and development along with chapters on Atlas, Titan, Scout, Space Shuttle, and much more.
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Many other excellent books about spaceflight are recommended here.
17-Jul-99 | Delta III failure investigation, preliminary results
Boeing has identified a probable cause for the premature second stage engine shutdown that caused the 4 May launch of Delta III to strand Orion F-3 in a lower than planned orbit. “The most likely [scenario] appears to be a breach in the engine combustion chamber that resulted in an explosive-type event,” said Dr. Russell Reck, Chairman of the Investivative Board. (Boeing press release) The rupture has been traced to a new manufacturing process used by Pratt & Whitney; similar flaws have been found in other recently-built RL10 engines, variants of which are used in Delta III as well as the Centaur upper stage. A number of Atlas-Centaur flights have also been delayed. The next Delta III flight is expected in October, but may depend on the availability of a non-suspect engine and/or re-engineering of the process.