List of Delta IV Medium launches explained

Since November 2002, rockets from the Delta IV Medium family have been launched 29 times, all of which were successful. Its last flight was with a 3rd generation GPS satellite in August 2019.

Delta IV Medium configurations

The Delta IV Medium (also referred to as 'single stick'^{[1] [2]}) was available in four configurations: Medium, Medium+ (4,2), Medium+ (5,2), and Medium+ (5,4).^[3]

• Delta IV Medium, coded Delta 9040, was the most basic Delta IV. It featured a single CBC and a modified Delta 3 second stage, with 4-meter liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks (called a Delta Cryogenic Second Stage (DCSS)) and a 4-meter payload fairing. The Delta IV Medium was capable of launching 4,200 kg to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). From Cape Canaveral, GTO is 1804 m/s away from GEO. The mass of fairing and payload attach fittings have been subtracted from the gross performance.^[4]
• Delta IV Medium+ (4,2), coded Delta 9240, had the same CBC and DCSS as the Medium, but with the addition of two Orbital ATK-built 1.5-m (60-in) diameter solid rocket booster Graphite-Epoxy Motors (GEM-60s) strap-on boosters to increase payload capacity to 6,150 kg to GTO.
• Delta IV Medium+ (5,2), coded Delta 9250, was similar to the Medium+ (4,2), but had a 5-m–diameter DCSS and payload fairing for larger payloads. Because of the extra weight of the larger payload fairing and second stage, the Medium+ (5,2) could launch 5,072 kg to GTO.
• Delta IV Medium+ (5,4), coded Delta 9450, was similar to the Medium+ (5,2), but used four GEM-60s instead of two, enabling it to lift 6,882 kg to GTO.

To encapsulate the satellite payload, a variety of different payload fairings were available. A stretched Delta III 4-meter diameter composite payload fairing was used on 4-meter Medium versions, while an enlarged, 5-meter diameter composite fairing was used on 5-meter Medium versions.

The Medium (4,2) version last flew on 22 August 2019, marking the retirement of the Delta IV Medium variants.^[5]

Launch Statistics

Customers

Launch History

Flight! scope="col"

Date / time (UTC)	Rocket Configuration	Launch site	Payload	Payload mass	Orbit	Customer	Launch outcome
1	November 20, 2002 22:39	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	CCAFS SLC-37B	Eutelsat W5	3,086 pounds (1,400 kilograms)	GTO	Eutelsat	^[6]
	First Delta IV launch, Commercial communications satellite
2	March 11, 2003 00:59	Delta IV Medium	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-167 (DSCS-3 A3)		GTO	US Air Force	^[7]
	Military communications satellite, First Delta IV Medium launch, First USAF EELV mission
3	August 29, 2003 23:13	Delta IV Medium	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-170 (DSCS-3 B6)		GTO	US Air Force	^[8]
	Military communications satellite
4	May 24, 2006 22:11	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	CCAFS SLC-37B	GOES-N (GOES-13)	6,908 pounds (3,133 kilograms)	GTO	NASA/NOAA	^[9]
	First Delta IV launch for NASA, Weather satellite
5	June 28, 2006 03:33	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	VAFB SLC-6	NROL-22		Molniya	US NRO	^[10]
	First Delta IV launch from Vandenberg, Reconnaissance satellite
6	November 4, 2006 13:53	Delta IV Medium	VAFB SLC-6	DMSP F17		SSO	DoD	^[11]
	First Delta IV launch into a LEO/SSO, Military weather satellite
7	June 27, 2009 22:51	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	CCAFS SLC-37B	GOES-O (GOES-14)	6,908 pounds (3,133 kilograms)	GTO	NASA/NOAA	^[12]
	Weather satellite
8	December 6, 2009 01:47	Delta IV Medium+ (5,4)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-211 (WGS-3)	13,199 pounds (5,987 kilograms)	GTO	US Air Force	^[13]
	First Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) launch, Communication satellite
9	4 March 2010 23:57			GOES-P (GOES-15)	7,139 pounds (3,238 kilograms)	GTO	NASA	^[14]
	NOAA Weather satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program. Replaced GOES-11 as the GOES West satellite.
10	28 May 2010 03:00	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-213 (GPS IIF SV-1)	3,594 pounds (1,630 kilograms)	MEO	US Air Force	^[15]
	Navigation satellite
11	11 March 2011 23:38	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-227 (NROL-27)	5,148 pounds (2335 kilogarms)	GTO	US NRO
	Military comsat.
12	16 July 2011 06:41	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-232 (GPS IIF-2)	3,594 pounds (1,630 kilograms)	MEO	US Air Force	^[16]
	Navigation satellite
13	20 January 201200:38	Delta IV Medium+ (5,4)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-233 (WGS-4)	13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms)	GTO	US Air Force	^[17]
	Military comsat
14	3 April 2012 23:12	Delta IV Medium+ (5,2)	VAFB SLC-6	USA-234 (NROL-25)		LEO	US NRO	^[18]
	First Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) launch, Reconnaissance satellite
15	4 October 2012 12:10	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-239 (GPS IIF-3)	3,594 pounds (1,630 kilograms)	MEO	US Air Force	^[19]
	Upper stage anomaly,^[20] Satellite navigation
16	25 May 2013 00:27	Delta IV Medium+ (5,4)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-243 (WGS-5)	13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms)	GTO	US Air Force	^[21]
	Military comsat
17	8 August 2013 00:29	Delta IV Medium+ (5,4)	CCAFS, SLC-37B	USA-244 (WGS-6)	13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms)	GTO	US Air Force	^[22]
	Military comsat
18	21 February 2014 01:59	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-248 (GPS IIF-5)	3,594 pounds (1,630 kilograms)	MEO	US Air Force	^[23]
	25th Delta IV launch, Satellite navigation
19	17 May 2014 00:03	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-251 (GPS IIF-6)	3,594 pounds (1,630 kilograms)	MEO	US Air Force	^[24]
	Navigation satellite
20	28 July 2014 23:28	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA 253-255 (AFSPC-4 (GSSAP #1/#2/ANGELS))		GEO	DoD/AFRL	^[25]
	Space surveillance Technology demonstration
21	25 March 2015 18:36	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-260 (GPS IIF-9)	3,594 pounds (1,630 kilograms)	MEO	US Air Force	^[26]
	Final launch of baseline RS-68 engine,^[27] Navigation satellite
22	24 July 2015 00:07	Delta IV Medium+ (5,4)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-263 (WGS-7)	13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms)	GTO	DoD	^[28]
	Second flight with an RS-68A engine; New standard for Delta IV rockets, Military comsat
23	10 February 2016, 11:40	Delta IV Medium+ (5,2)	VAFB SLC-6	USA-267 (NROL-45)		LEO	US NRO	^[29]
	Reconnaissance satellite
24	19 August 2016 04:52	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-270/271 (AFSPC-6 (GSSAP #3/#4))		GEO	DoD	^[30]
	Space surveillance satellite
25	7 December 201623:53	Delta IV Medium+ (5,4)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-272 (WGS-8)	13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms)	GTO	DoD	^[31]
	Military comsat
26	19 March 2017 00:18	Delta IV Medium+ (5,4)	CCAFS SLC-37B	USA-275 (WGS-9)	13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms)	GTO	DoD	^[32]
	Military comsat
27	12 January 2018 22:11	Delta IV Medium+ (5,2)	VAFB SLC-6	USA-281 (NROL-47)		LEO	US NRO	^[33]
	Final flight of Delta IV M+(5,2) variant. Reconnaissance satellite.
28	16 March 2019 00:26	Delta IV Medium+ (5,4)	CCAFS, SLC-37B	USA-291 (WGS-10)	13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms)	GTO	DoD	^[34]
	Final flight of Delta IV M+(5,4) variant. Military comsat.
29	22 August 2019 13:06	Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)	CCAFS, SLC-37B	USA-293 (GPS III-2)	8,168 pounds (3,705 kilograms)	MEO	US Air Force	^[35]
	Final flight of Delta IV M+(4,2) variant. 3rd generation Global Positioning Satellite (GPS)

See also

• List of Delta IV launches
• List of Delta IV Heavy launches
• List of Thor and Delta launches
• List of Thor and Delta launches (2000-2009)
• List of Thor and Delta launches (2010-2019)
• Delta (rocket family)
• Delta IV Medium
• Delta IV Heavy
• Delta IV

Notes and References

1. Web site: Clark. Stephen. Final 'single stick' Delta 4-Medium rocket arrives at Florida launch pad – Spaceflight Now. 2020-11-01. en-US.
2. Web site: Ray. Justin. Air Force assigns new Delta 4 rocket launch – Spaceflight Now. 2020-11-01. en-US.
3. Web site: Gebhardt. Chris. 2019-08-22. Delta IV Medium's well-earned retirement with GPS finale. 2020-08-15. NASASpaceFlight.com.
4. Web site: June 2013. Delta IV Launch Services User's Guide. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140710005717/http://www.ulalaunch.com/uploads/docs/Launch_Vehicles/Delta_IV_Users_Guide_June_2013.pdf. 2014-07-10. 2014-07-09. United Launch Alliance. 2–10, 5-3.
5. Web site: Berger. Eric. 2019-08-22. The last single-stick Delta rocket launched Thursday, and it put on a show. 2020-08-06. Ars Technica.
6. Web site: Boeing's Delta 4 rocket debuts successfully. November 20, 2002. Spaceflight Now.
7. Web site: Delta 4 rocket successfully begins military service. March 10, 2003. Spaceflight Now.
8. Web site: Delta 4 rocket delivers last Air Force DSCS satellite. August 29, 2003. Spaceflight Now.
9. Web site: Weather observatory for Americas ascends to space. May 24, 2006. Spaceflight Now.
10. Web site: New era of rocket launches begins at California base. June 27, 2006. Spaceflight Now.
11. Web site: Military weather satellite rockets into polar orbit. November 4, 2006. Spaceflight Now.
12. Web site: NASA and NOAA's GOES-O Satellite Successfully Launched . 2009-06-27 . NASA KSC . 2021-02-18 . 2009-06-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090629053451/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/releases/2009/release-20090627.html . dead .
13. Web site: New communications craft launched for U.S. military. Ray. Justin. 2009-12-05. Spaceflight Now. 2009-12-06.
14. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NASA/NOAA Weather Satellite Mission. United Launch Alliance. 3 February 2013. 4 March 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/47. 7 December 2013. dead.
15. Web site: ULA Marks Delta 50th Anniversary with Successful Delta IV GPS IIF SV-1 Launch. United Launch Alliance. 3 February 2013. 27 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/50. 7 December 2013. dead.
16. Web site: 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. 16 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/73/. 7 December 2013. dead.
17. Web site: United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches US Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) Satellite. United Launch Alliance. 2 February 2013. 19 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/93/. 7 December 2013. dead.
18. Web site: United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches Payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. United Launch Alliance. 2 February 2013. 3 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/99/. 7 December 2013. dead.
19. Web site: United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force. United Launch Alliance. 4 October 2012. 4 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/121/. 7 December 2013. dead.
20. Web site: United Launch Alliance Provides Update to Global Positioning System Launch. United Launch Alliance. 7 October 2012. 5 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/122/. 7 December 2013. dead.
21. Web site: United Launch Alliance Launches Second Successful Mission for U.S. Air Force in Just Nine Days. United Launch Alliance. 25 May 2013. 24 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/141/. 7 December 2013. dead.
22. Web site: 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. 8 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/150/. 7 December 2013. dead.
23. Web site: 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. 21 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/167/. 7 December 2013. dead.
24. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force in Less Than Three Months. United Launch Alliance. 18 May 2014. 16 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140517151604/http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-successfully-launches-second-global.aspx?title=United+Launch+Alliance+Successfully+Launches+Second+Global+Positioning+System+Satellite+for+the+U.S.+Air+Force+in+Less+Than+Three+Months. 17 May 2014. dead.
25. Web site: 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. 29 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140805021058/http://www.ulalaunch.com/ULA-Delta-IV-Launches-AFSPC-4.aspx?title=United+Launch+Alliance+Marks+85th+Successful+Launch+by+Delivering+Three+Satellites+into+Orbit+for+the+U.S.+Air+Force+. 5 August 2014. dead.
26. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Mission in Less than Two Weeks. United Launch Alliance. 26 March 2015. 26 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20180112160114/http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-launches-gpsiif9-for-US-Air-Force.aspx?title=United+Launch+Alliance+Successfully+Launches+Second+Mission+in+Less+than+Two+Weeks. 12 January 2018. dead.
27. Web site: Delta 4 rocket evolving to upgraded main engine. Spaceflight Now. 28 March 2015. 27 March 2015.
28. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-7. United Launch Alliance. 25 July 2015. 23 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20180112160116/http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-successfully-launches-wgs7.aspx. 12 January 2018. dead.
29. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-45 Payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. United Launch Alliance. 29 March 2016. 10 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20180112160138/http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-successfully-launches-nrol45.aspx?title=United+Launch+Alliance+Successfully+Launches+NROL-45+Payload+for+the+National+Reconnaissance+Office&Category=1. 12 January 2018. dead.
30. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches AFSPC6 Mission for the U.S. Air Force. 19 August 2016. United Launch Alliance. 19 August 2016.
31. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS8 Mission for the U.S. Air Force. 7 December 2016. United Launch Alliance. 7 December 2016.
32. Web site: Delta IV to Launch WGS-9 for the U.S. Air Force. 18 March 2017. United Launch Alliance. 18 November 2017.
33. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-47 Mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. 12 January 2018. United Launch Alliance. 12 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180113093321/http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-successfully-launches-nrol47-mission.aspx. 13 January 2018. dead.
34. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-10 Mission. 16 March 2019. United Launch Alliance. 16 March 2019.
35. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches GPS III Satellite for U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. 22 August 2019. United Launch Alliance. 22 August 2019.