List of Delta IV launches explained

Delta IV was 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 was primarily a launch vehicle for United States Air Force (USAF) military payloads, but was also used to launch a number of United States government non-military payloads and a single commercial satellite.[1]

The Delta IV originally had two main versions which allowed the family to cover a range of payload sizes and masses: the Medium (which had four configurations) and Heavy.[2] Since September 2019, only the Heavy remained 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 occurred in 2024.[3]

Delta IV vehicles were built in the ULA facility in Decatur, Alabama. Final assembly was 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.

Launch statistics

Vehicle

See main article: List of Delta IV Medium launches and List of Delta IV Heavy launches.

Launch History

Flight! scope="col"
Date / time (UTC)Launch sitePayload[4] RocketLaunch
outcome
120 November 2002Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BEutelsat W5Delta IV Medium[5]
211 March 2003Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-167 (DSCS-3 A3)Delta IV Medium[6]
329 August 2003Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-170 (DSCS-3 B6)Delta IV Medium[7]
421 December 2004Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BDemoSat, Sparkie / 3CS-1 and Ralphie / 3CS-2Delta IV Heavy
524 May 2006Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BGOES-N (GOES-13)Delta IV Medium[8]
628 June 2006Vandenberg, SLC-6USA-184 (NROL-22)Delta IV Medium[9]
74 November 2006Vandenberg, SLC-6DMSP F17Delta IV Medium[10]
811 November 2007Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BDSP-23 Defense Support ProgramDelta IV Heavy
918 January 2009Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BOrion 6 / Mentor 4 (USA-202 / NROL-26)Delta IV Heavy
1027 June 2009Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BGOES-O (GOES-14)Delta IV Medium[11]
116 December 2009Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-211 (WGS-3)Delta IV Medium[12]
124 March 2010Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BGOES-P (GOES-15)Delta IV Medium[13]
1328 May 2010Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-213 (GPS IIF SV-1)Delta IV Medium[14]
1421 November 2010Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BOrion 7 / Mentor 5 (USA-223 / NROL-32)Delta IV Heavy
1520 January 2011Vandenberg, SLC-6KH-11 Kennen 15 (USA-224 / NROL-49)Delta IV Heavy
1611 March 2011Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-227 (NROL-27)Delta IV Medium
1716 July 2011Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-232 (GPS IIF-2)Delta IV Medium[15]
1820 January 2012Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-233 (WGS-4)Delta IV Medium[16]
193 April 2012Vandenberg, SLC-6USA-234 (NROL-25)Delta IV Medium[17]
2029 June 2012Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BOrion 8 / Mentor 6 (USA-237 / NROL-15)Delta IV Heavy
214 October 2012Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-239 (GPS IIF-3)Delta IV Medium[18]
2225 May 2013Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-243 (WGS-5)Delta IV Medium[19]
238 August 2013Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-244 (WGS-6)Delta IV Medium[20]
2426 August 2013Vandenberg, SLC-6KH-11 Kennen 16 (USA-245 / NROL-65)Delta IV Heavy
2521 February 2014Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-248 (GPS IIF-5)Delta IV Medium[21]
2617 May 2014Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-251 (GPS IIF-6)Delta IV Medium[22]
2728 July 2014Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA 253-255 (AFSPC-4 (GSSAP #1/#2/ANGELS))Delta IV Medium[23]
285 December 2014Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BOrion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1)Delta IV Heavy
2925 March 2015Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-260 (GPS IIF-9)Delta IV Medium[24]
3024 July 2015Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-263 (WGS-7)Delta IV Medium[25]
3110 February 2016Vandenberg, SLC-6USA-267 (NROL-45)Delta IV Medium[26]
3211 June 2016Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BOrion 9 / Mentor 7 (USA-268 / NROL-37)Delta IV Heavy
3319 August 2016Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-270/271 (AFSPC-6 (GSSAP #3/#4))Delta IV Medium[27]
347 December 2016Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-272 (WGS-8)Delta IV Medium[28]
3519 March 2017Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-275 (WGS-9)Delta IV Medium[29]
3612 January 2018Vandenberg, SLC-6USA-281 (NROL-47)Delta IV Medium[30]
3712 August 2018Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BParker Solar ProbeDelta IV Heavy
3819 January 2019Vandenberg, SLC-6KH-11 Kennen 17 (NROL-71)Delta IV Heavy
3916 March 2019Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-291 (WGS-10)Delta IV Medium[31]
4022 August 2019Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BUSA-293 (GPS III-2)Delta IV Medium[32]
4111 December 2020Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BOrion 10 / Mentor 8 (USA-268 / NROL-44)[33] [34] Delta IV Heavy
4226 April 2021Vandenberg, SLC-6KH-11 Kennen 18 (NROL-82)Delta IV Heavy
4324 September 2022Vandenberg, SLC-6KH-11 Kennen 18 (NROL-91)Delta IV Heavy
4422 June 2023Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BOrion 11 / Mentor 9 (NROL-68)Delta IV Heavy
459 April 2024Cape Canaveral, SLC-37BOrion 12 / Mentor 10 (NROL-70)Delta IV Heavy

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Delta IV Launch Vehicle. 2021-07-09. mobile.arc.nasa.gov.
  2. Web site: Delta IV. 2021-07-09. www.ulalaunch.com.
  3. Web site: 2020-08-24. ULA to launch Delta 4 Heavy for its 12th mission, four more to go before rocket is retired. 2021-07-09. SpaceNews. en-US.
  4. Web site: Krebs. Gunter. Delta-4. 15 March 2018. Gunter's Space Page.
  5. Web site: Boeing's Delta 4 rocket debuts successfully. November 20, 2002. Spaceflight Now.
  6. Web site: Delta 4 rocket successfully begins military service. March 10, 2003. Spaceflight Now.
  7. Web site: Delta 4 rocket delivers last Air Force DSCS satellite. August 29, 2003. Spaceflight Now.
  8. Web site: Weather observatory for Americas ascends to space. May 24, 2006. Spaceflight Now.
  9. Web site: New era of rocket launches begins at California base. June 27, 2006. Spaceflight Now.
  10. Web site: Military weather satellite rockets into polar orbit. November 4, 2006. Spaceflight Now.
  11. Web site: NASA and NOAA's GOES-O Satellite Successfully Launched . 2009-06-27 . NASA KSC . 2021-05-02 . 2009-06-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090629053451/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/releases/2009/release-20090627.html . dead .
  12. Web site: New communications craft launched for U.S. military. Ray. Justin. 2009-12-05. Spaceflight Now. 2009-12-06.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. 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.
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
  26. 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.
  27. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches AFSPC6 Mission for the U.S. Air Force. 19 August 2016. United Launch Alliance. 19 August 2016.
  28. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS8 Mission for the U.S. Air Force. 7 December 2016. United Launch Alliance. 7 December 2016.
  29. Web site: Delta IV to Launch WGS-9 for the U.S. Air Force. 18 March 2017. United Launch Alliance. 18 November 2017.
  30. 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.
  31. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-10 Mission. 16 March 2019. United Launch Alliance. 16 March 2019.
  32. 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.
  33. Web site: 27 October 2020. Launch Schedule. 31 October 2020. Spaceflight Now.
  34. Web site: 30 October 2020. Launch Mission Execution Forecast. 31 October 2020. 45th Weather Squadron – Patrick Air Force Base.

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