List of Delta 4 launches
Has use | Orbital launch vehicle |
---|---|
Manufacturer | United Launch Alliance |
Country of origin | United States |
Cost per launch | US$164+ million[1] |
Size | |
Height | 63–72 m (207–236 ft) |
Diameter | 5 m (16 ft) |
Mass | 249,500–733,400 kg (550,100–1,616,900 lb) |
Stages | 2 |
Capacity | |
Payload to LEO | |
Mass | 11,470–28,790 kg (25,290–63,470 lb) |
Payload to GTO | |
Mass | 4,440–14,220 kg (9,790–31,350 lb) |
Associated rockets | |
Family | Delta (rocket family) |
Comparable | |
Launch history | |
Status | Delta IV Heavy is active; Delta IV Medium, M+(4,2), M+(5,2), and M+(5,4) retired. |
Launch sites | SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral SLC-6, Vandenberg AFB |
Total launches | 41
|
Success(es) | 40
|
Partial failure(s) | 1 (Heavy) |
First flight |
|
Last flight | |
People or cargo transported |
|
Boosters (Medium+) – GEM 60 | |
No. boosters | Medium+ (4,2), Medium+ (5,2): 2 Medium+ (5,4): 4 |
Gross mass | 33,638 kg (74,158 lb) |
Powered by | off |
Maximum thrust | 826.6 kN (185,800 lbf) |
Specific impulse | 245 s (2.40 km/s) (sea level) |
Burn time | 91 seconds |
Propellant | HTPB / Aluminum |
Boosters (Heavy) – Common Booster Core (CBC) | |
No. boosters | 2 |
Gross mass | 226,400 kg (499,100 lb) |
Powered by | 1 RS-68A |
Maximum thrust | 3,140 kN (705,000 lbf) (sea level) |
Specific impulse | Sea level: 360 s (3.5 km/s) Vacuum: 412 s (4.04 km/s) |
Burn time | 242 seconds |
Propellant | LH2 / LOX |
First stage – Common Booster Core (CBC) | |
Gross mass | 226,400 kg (499,100 lb) |
Powered by | 1 RS-68A |
Maximum thrust | 3,140 kN (705,000 lbf) (sea level) |
Specific impulse | Sea level: 360 s (3.5 km/s) Vacuum: 412 s (4.04 km/s) |
Burn time | 245 seconds (328 seconds in Heavy configuration) |
Propellant | LH2 / LOX |
Second stage – Delta Cryogenic Second Stage (DCSS) | |
Gross mass | 4-m: 24,170 kg (53,290 lb) 5-m: 30,700 kg (67,700 lb) |
Powered by | 1 RL10-B-2 |
Maximum thrust | 110 kN (25,000 lbf) |
Specific impulse | 462 s (4.53 km/s) |
Burn time | 850-1,125 seconds |
Propellant | LH2 / LOX |
Delta IV is a group of five expendable launch systems in the Delta rocket family introduced in the early 2000s. Originally designed by Boeing's Defense, Space and Security division for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, the Delta IV became a United Launch Alliance (ULA) product in 2006. The Delta IV is primarily a launch vehicle for United States Air Force (USAF) military payloads, but has also been used to launch a number of United States government non-military payloads and a single commercial satellite.[2]
The Delta IV originally had two main versions which allowed the family to cover a range of payload sizes and masses: the retired Medium (which had four configurations) and Heavy.[3] As of 2019, only the Heavy remains active, with payloads that would previously fly on Medium moving to either the existing Atlas V or the forthcoming Vulcan. Retirement of the Delta IV is anticipated in 2023.[4]
Delta IV vehicles are built in the ULA facility in Decatur, Alabama. Final assembly is completed at the launch site by ULA: at the horizontal integration facility for launches from SLC-37B pad at Cape Canaveral and in a similar facility for launches from SLC-6 pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base.[2]
Launch statistics[]
Launch Outcome[]
- Partial Failure
- Success
- Scheduled
Launch Station[]
- Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B
- VAFB SLC-6
Rocket[]
- Delta IV Medium
- Delta IV Heavy
Launch History[]
Flight | Date / time (UTC) | Launch site | Payload[5] | Rocket | Launch outcome[5] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 20 November 2002 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Eutelsat W5 | Delta IV Medium | Success[6] |
2 | 11 March 2003 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-167 (DSCS-3 A3) | Delta IV Medium | Success[7] |
3 | 29 August 2003 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-170 (DSCS-3 B6) | Delta IV Medium | Success[8] |
4 | 21 December 2004 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | DemoSat, Sparkie / 3CS-1 and Ralphie / 3CS-2 | Delta IV Heavy | Partial failure[a] |
5 | 24 May 2006 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | GOES-N (GOES-13) | Delta IV Medium | Success[9] |
6 | 28 June 2006 | VAFB SLC-6 | NROL-22 | Delta IV Medium | Success[10] |
7 | 4 November 2006 | VAFB SLC-6 | DMSP F17 | Delta IV Medium | Success[11] |
8 | 11 November 2007 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | DSP-23 Defense Support Program | Delta IV Heavy | Success |
9 | 18 January 2009 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Orion 6 / Mentor 4 (USA-202 / NROL-26) | Delta IV Heavy | Success |
10 | 27 June 2009 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | GOES-O (GOES-14) | Delta IV Medium | Success[12] |
11 | 6 December 2009 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-211 (WGS-3) | Delta IV Medium | Success[13] |
12 | 4 March 2010 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | GOES-P (GOES-15) | Delta IV Medium | Success[14] |
13 | 28 May 2010 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-213 (GPS IIF SV-1) | Delta IV Medium | Success[15] |
14 | 21 November 2010 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Orion 7 / Mentor 5 (USA-223 / NROL-32) | Delta IV Heavy | Success |
15 | 20 January 2011 | Vandenberg, SLC-6 | KH-11 Kennen 15 (USA-224 / NROL-49) | Delta IV Heavy | Success |
16 | 11 March 2011 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-227 (NROL-27) | Delta IV Medium | Success |
17 | 16 July 2011 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-232 (GPS IIF-2) | Delta IV Medium | Success[16] |
18 | 20 January 2012 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-233 (WGS-4) | Delta IV Medium | Success[17] |
19 | 3 April 2012 | VAFB SLC-6 | USA-234 (NROL-25) | Delta IV Medium | Success[18] |
20 | 29 June 2012 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Orion 8 / Mentor 6 (USA-237 / NROL-15) | Delta IV Heavy | Success |
21 | 4 October 2012 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-239 (GPS IIF-3) | Delta IV Medium | Success[19] |
22 | 25 May 2013 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-243 (WGS-5) | Delta IV Medium | Success[20] |
23 | 8 August 2013 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-244 (WGS-6) | Delta IV Medium | Success[21] |
24 | 26 August 2013 | Vandenberg, SLC-6 | KH-11 Kennen 16 (USA-245 / NROL-65) | Delta IV Heavy | Success |
25 | 21 February 2014 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-248 (GPS IIF-5) | Delta IV Medium | Success[22] |
26 | 17 May 2014 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-251 (GPS IIF-6) | Delta IV Medium | Success[23] |
27 | 28 July 2014 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA 253-255 (AFSPC-4 (GSSAP #1/#2/ANGELS)) | Delta IV Medium | Success[24] |
28 | 5 December 2014 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) | Delta IV Heavy | Success |
29 | 25 March 2015 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-260 (GPS IIF-9) | Delta IV Medium | Success[25] |
30 | 24 July 2015 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-263 (WGS-7) | Delta IV Medium | Success[26] |
31 | 10 February 2016 | VAFB SLC-6 | USA-267 (NROL-45) | Delta IV Medium | Success[27] |
32 | 11 June 2016 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Orion 9 / Mentor 7 (USA-268 / NROL-37) | Delta IV Heavy | Success |
33 | 19 August 2016 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-270/271 (AFSPC-6 (GSSAP #3/#4)) | Delta IV Medium | Success[28] |
34 | 7 December 2016 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-272 (WGS-8) | Delta IV Medium | Success[29] |
35 | 19 March 2017 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-275 (WGS-9) | Delta IV Medium | Success[30] |
36 | 12 January 2018 | VAFB SLC-6 | USA-281 (NROL-47) | Delta IV Heavy | Success[31] |
37 | 12 August 2018 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Parker Solar Probe[b] | Delta IV Medium | Success |
38 | 19 January 2019 | Vandenberg, SLC-6 | NROL-71 | Delta IV Heavy | Success |
39 | 16 March 2019 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-291 (WGS-10) | Delta IV Medium | Success[32] |
40 | 22 August 2019 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | USA-293 (GPS III-2) | Delta IV Medium | Success[33] |
41 | 11 December 2020 | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Orion 10 / Mentor 8 (USA-268/ NROL-44)[34][35] | Delta IV Heavy | Success |
42 | 26 April 2021 | Vandenberg, SLC-6 | KH-11 Kennen 17 (NROL-82) | Delta IV Heavy | Success |
Upcoming launches[]
The following missions have been announced by the National Reconnaissance Office.[36] For the final five missions (12-16) including contract modifications, ULA has been awarded $2.2 billion, or $440 million per launch.[37] This can be compared with the Falcon Heavy launch price of $90 million to $150 million. As of July 2021, these are the final missions:[38]
Date (UTC) | Payload | Client | Launch site |
---|---|---|---|
2022 (14th mission) | NROL-91 | NRO | Vandenberg, SLC-6 |
2023 (15th mission) | NROL-68 | NRO | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B |
2024 (16th mission) | NROL-70 | NRO | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B |
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-17-609
- ^ a b "Delta IV Launch Vehicle". mobile.arc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
- ^ "Delta IV". www.ulalaunch.com. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
- ^ "ULA to launch Delta 4 Heavy for its 12th mission, four more to go before rocket is retired". SpaceNews. 2020-08-24. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
- ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "Delta-4". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ "Boeing's Delta 4 rocket debuts successfully". Spaceflight Now. November 20, 2002.
- ^ "Delta 4 rocket successfully begins military service". Spaceflight Now. March 10, 2003.
- ^ "Delta 4 rocket delivers last Air Force DSCS satellite". Spaceflight Now. August 29, 2003.
- ^ "Weather observatory for Americas ascends to space". Spaceflight Now. May 24, 2006.
- ^ "New era of rocket launches begins at California base". Spaceflight Now. June 27, 2006.
- ^ "Military weather satellite rockets into polar orbit". Spaceflight Now. November 4, 2006.
- ^ "NASA and NOAA's GOES-O Satellite Successfully Launched". NASA KSC. 2009-06-27.
- ^ Ray, Justin (2009-12-05). "New communications craft launched for U.S. military". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NASA/NOAA Weather Satellite Mission". United Launch Alliance. 4 March 2010. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ "ULA Marks Delta 50th Anniversary with Successful Delta IV GPS IIF SV-1 Launch". United Launch Alliance. 27 May 2010. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Marks the 50th Successful GPS Launch for the Air Force with the Delivery of the GPS IIF-2 Mission to orbit". United Launch Alliance. 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches US Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) Satellite". United Launch Alliance. 19 January 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches Payload for the National Reconnaissance Office". United Launch Alliance. 3 April 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 4 October 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Launches Second Successful Mission for U.S. Air Force in Just Nine Days". United Launch Alliance. 24 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Wideband Global SATCOM Mission for U.S. Air Force in Less Than Three Months". United Launch Alliance. 8 August 2013. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches 25th Delta IV Mission Carrying Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 21 February 2014. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force in Less Than Three Months". United Launch Alliance. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Marks 85th Successful Launch by Delivering Three Satellites into Orbit for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 29 July 2014. Archived from the original on 5 August 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Mission in Less than Two Weeks". United Launch Alliance. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-7". United Launch Alliance. 23 July 2015. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-45 Payload for the National Reconnaissance Office". United Launch Alliance. 10 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches AFSPC6 Mission for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS8 Mission for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- ^ "Delta IV to Launch WGS-9 for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-47 Mission for the National Reconnaissance Office". United Launch Alliance. 12 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-10 Mission". United Launch Alliance. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches GPS III Satellite for U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center". United Launch Alliance. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Launch Mission Execution Forecast". 45th Weather Squadron – Patrick Air Force Base. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Ray, Justin (7 June 2016). "Surveillance satellite launching Thursday atop Delta IV Heavy rocket". Spaceflight Now.
- ^ Erwin, Sandra (30 September 2019). "Air Force awards ULA US$1.18 billion contract to complete five Delta IV Heavy NRO missions". SpaceNews. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ Erwin, Sandra (24 August 2020). "ULA to launch Delta IV Heavy for its 12th mission, four more to go before rocket is retired". SpaceNews. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- Lists of Delta launches
- Lists of rocket launches