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[murphy]

Rocket carrying a 45 million dollar military satellite explodes during blast off

[Twolanerider]

That's an old incident.  That Delta II blew up early in 1997.  Think it was January as I remember it being right after my birthday.

[Buy early]

That's an old incident.  That Delta II blew up early in 1997.  Think it was January as I remember it being right after my birthday.

So you're not denying this happened!

[Twolanerider]

So you're not denying this happened!

Oh lord no.  But there's no surprise nor mystery there.  It's not like AF ever tried to hide it or anything. 

Lots of rockets have blown up over the years.  It happens.  And the Delta series has been around for a long long time.  First one went up in late 59 or 1960 and even that was a follow-on from the Thor that came before it (Thor was our first ICBM rocket).

Delta was the mainstay and rocket of choice for many years.  Faded a bit when Space Shuttle initially competed for commercial payloads. Then Reagan ordered no more commercial payloads for Space Shuttle so during the 80s they finished development of Delta II.  Bigger for heavier payloads.  Think the first one went up in 89.

Delta has been a very reliable rocket (as rockets go).  But they're still Roman candles on steroids with an attitude.  Once in awhile you're just going to lose one.  That's what happened to this one in 97.  It just blew up. 

If I remember correctly it actually self destructed or was detonated.  Something like 13 seconds in to the flight.  Don't remember the details without digging out the old incident report but think it was reported as a bad engine nozzle.  A big crack.  So wouldn't have proper guidance/steering.  When the anomaly was recognized it was safer to blow it up where it was then let it go god knows where and land on god knows who.

[VANAMAL]

im about 30 miles east of vandeberg afb. those guys are always launching something. really neat to see them on a clear day. i think the atlas was the big one that would shake the house!

[Buy early]

Oh lord no.  But there's no surprise nor mystery there.  It's not like AF ever tried to hide it or anything. 

Lots of rockets have blown up over the years.  It happens.  And the Delta series has been around for a long long time.  First one went up in late 59 or 1960 and even that was a follow-on from the Thor that came before it (Thor was our first ICBM rocket).

Delta was the mainstay and rocket of choice for many years.  Faded a bit when Space Shuttle initially competed for commercial payloads. Then Reagan ordered no more commercial payloads for Space Shuttle so during the 80s they finished development of Delta II.  Bigger for heavier payloads.  Think the first one went up in 89.

Delta has been a very reliable rocket (as rockets go).  But they're still Roman candles on steroids with an attitude.  Once in awhile you're just going to lose one.  That's what happened to this one in 97.  It just blew up. 

If I remember correctly it actually self destructed or was detonated.  Something like 13 seconds in to the flight.  Don't remember the details without digging out the old incident report but think it was reported as a bad engine nozzle.  A big crack.  So wouldn't have proper guidance/steering.  When the anomaly was recognized it was safer to blow it up where it was then let it go god knows where and land on god knows who.

So... you're not denying this happened?

[Twolanerider]

So... you're not denying this happened?

Ok, just for the fun of it I will.  It never happened.  I can prove it too.  If you go to the Cape and look there ain't no mess on the ground like it shows in the video.  Wow !

Also, I'm sure I saw all the debris fall in a pattern that spelled out Capricorn One (but in Latin -- to be more sneaky).

[willymax4]

that weren't no explosion, it was just a anomoly. 

[Twolanerider]

that weren't no explosion, it was just a anomoly. 

Those are really good with banana and peanut butter.