In the 1990s, McDonnell Douglas worked closely with the US government to launch and land several versions of the Delta Clipper, a vertical takeoff and landing, single-stage-to-orbit technology demonstrator that was touted as the gateway into a new era in space. A small, dedicated group of government, industry engineers, and project managers led by legendary astronaut and visionary Pete Conrad were on the threshold of making history in aerospace development. Not only was the new century approaching, but a