Alliant Techsystems' Alliant Aerospace Propulsion has completed the second of three static test firings of the solid rocket motor (pictured) that will provide thrust-augmentation to the new Boeing Delta IV Medium Plus booster fleet. The Delta IV's graphite epoxy solid rocket strap-on GEM 40 motors will assist the boosters to provide a lift capacity to geostationary transfer orbit between 5,860km (3,635 miles) and 6,565km.
· Two metal objects that fell from the sky on to the Western Cape province of South Africa last month are believed to be parts of the third stage of the Delta II booster that placed a Navstar GPS satellite into orbit in 1996. One round object was 200mm (8in) in diameter, weighing 30kg, and the second oblong object, 1m in diameter, 1.5m long and weighing 50kg. The objects are similar to two parts that came down in Texas in January 1997, which were believed to be from a Delta II launched in April 1996.
Source: Flight International
