![]() Delta IV Heavy launches from Vandenberg | |
Function | Orbital heavy-lift launch vehicle |
---|---|
Manufacturer | United Launch Alliance |
Country of origin | United States |
Cost per launch | US$350 million [1] NRO: US$440 million |
Cost per year | 2018 |
Size | |
Height | 72 m (236 ft) |
Diameter | 5 m (16 ft) |
Width | 15 m (49 ft) |
Mass | 733,000 kg (1,616,000 lb) |
Stages | 2+ |
Capacity | |
Payload to LEO | |
Mass | 28,790 kg (63,470 lb) |
Payload to GTO | |
Mass | 14,220 kg (31,350 lb) |
Associated rockets | |
Family | Delta IV |
Comparable | |
Launch history | |
Status | Active |
Launch sites | |
Total launches | 12 |
Success(es) | 11 |
Partial failure(s) | 1 |
First flight | 21 December 2004 (USA-181) |
Last flight | 10 December 2020 (NROL-44) |
Notable payloads | |
Boosters (CBC) | |
No. boosters | 2 |
Length | 40.8 m (134 ft) |
Diameter | 5.1 m (17 ft) |
Empty mass | 26,000 kg (57,000 lb) |
Gross mass | 226,400 kg (499,100 lb) |
Propellant mass | 200,400 kg (441,800 lb) [2] |
Engines | 1 RS-68A |
Thrust | 3,140 kN (710,000 lbf) |
Total thrust | 6,280 kN (1,410,000 lbf) |
Specific impulse | Sea level: 360 s (3.5 km/s) Vacuum: 412 s (4.04 km/s) |
Burn time | 242 seconds [3] |
Fuel | LH2 / LOX |
First stage (CBC) | |
Length | 40.8 m (134 ft) |
Diameter | 5.1 m (17 ft) |
Gross mass | 226,400 kg (499,100 lb) |
Propellant mass | 200,400 kg (441,800 lb) |
Engines | 1 RS-68A |
Thrust | 3,140 kN (710,000 lbf) |
Specific impulse | Sea level: 360 s (3.5 km/s) Vacuum: 412 s (4.04 km/s) |
Burn time | 328 seconds |
Fuel | LH2 / LOX |
Second stage (DCSS) | |
Length | 13.7 m (45 ft) |
Diameter | 5.1 m (17 ft) |
Gross mass | 30,700 kg (67,700 lb) |
Propellant mass | 27,220 kg (60,010 lb) |
Engines | 1 RL10-B-2 |
Thrust | 110 kN (25,000 lbf) |
Specific impulse | 462 s (4.53 km/s) |
Burn time | 1125 seconds |
Fuel | LH2 / LOX |
The Delta IV Heavy (Delta 9250H) is an expendable heavy-lift launch vehicle, the largest type of the Delta IV family and the world's second highest-capacity rocket in operation, behind SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket (in expendable configuration) and closely followed by CNSA's Long March 5 Rocket.[4][5] It is manufactured by United Launch Alliance and was first launched in 2004.[6]
The Delta IV Heavy consists of a central Common Booster Core (CBC), with two additional CBCs as liquid rocket boosters instead of the GEM-60 solid rocket motors used by the Delta IV Medium+ versions. At lift off, all three cores operate at full thrust, and 44 seconds later the center core throttles down to 55% to conserve fuel until booster separation. The boosters burn out at 242 seconds after launch and are separated as the core booster throttles back up to full thrust. The core burns out 86 seconds later, and the second stage completes the ascent to orbit.[3]
The rocket uses three RS-68 engines, one in the central core and one in each booster.[7]
The Delta IV line of rockets was developed by McDonnell Douglas, later United Launch Alliance. The Delta IV Heavy is the most powerful member of the line, which also includes the smaller Delta IV Medium.[8] The Delta IV Heavy can lift 28,370 kg (62,550 lb) to low Earth orbit and 13,810 kg (30,450 lb) to geostationary transfer orbit.[8] It is an all liquid-fueled rocket, consisting of an upper stage, one main booster and two strap-on boosters.[8]
The first launch of the Delta IV Heavy in 2004 carried a boilerplate payload and was a partial failure. Cavitation in the liquid-oxygen propellant lines caused shutdown of both boosters eight seconds early, and the core engine nine seconds early; this resulted in a lower staging velocity for which the second stage was unable to compensate. The payload was left in a lower than intended orbit.[9] Its first operational payload was the DSP-23 satellite, successfully launched in 2007; it was then used to launch a further five visual and electronic reconnaissance satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office through 2013.
In December 2014, the Delta IV Heavy was used to launch an uncrewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft, designated Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1). After several delays, the mission was successfully launched at 12:05 UTC on 5 December 2014.[10]
On 12 August 2018, the Delta IV Heavy with an additional Star 48BV third stage was used to launch the Parker Solar Probe into an elliptical heliocentric orbit.[11]
Capacity of the Delta IV Heavy:
The Delta IV Heavy's total mass at launch is approximately 733,000 kg (1,616,000 lb) and produce around 952,000 kg (2,099,000 lb) of thrust to power the rocket skyward at liftoff.[15]
Flight No. | Date | Payload [16] | Mass | Launch site | Outcome [16] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 21 December 2004 | DemoSat, Sparkie / 3CS-1 and Ralphie / 3CS-2 | ~6000 kg | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Partial failure[a] |
2 | 11 November 2007 | DSP-23 Defense Support Program | 5250 kg | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Success |
3 | 18 January 2009 | Orion 6 / Mentor 4 (USA-202 / NROL-26) | Classified | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Success |
4 | 21 November 2010 | Orion 7 / Mentor 5 (USA-223 / NROL-32) | Classified | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Success |
5 | 20 January 2011 | KH-11 Kennen 15 (USA-224 / NROL-49) | <17000 kg | Vandenberg, SLC-6 | Success |
6 | 29 June 2012 | Orion 8 / Mentor 6 (USA-237 / NROL-15) | Classified | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Success |
7 | 28 August 2013 | KH-11 Kennen 16 (USA-245 / NROL-65) | <17000 kg | Vandenberg, SLC-6 | Success |
8 | 5 December 2014 | Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) | 21,000 kg (46,000 lb)[17][b] | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Success |
9 | 11 June 2016 | Orion 9 / Mentor 7 (USA-268 / NROL-37) | Classified | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Success |
10 | 12 August 2018 | Parker Solar Probe[c] | 685 kg | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Success |
11 | 19 January 2019 | NROL-71 | Classified | Vandenberg, SLC-6 | Success |
12 | 11 December 2020 | Orion 10 / Mentor 8 (USA-268/ NROL-44)[18][19] | Classified | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B | Success |
The following missions have been announced by the National Reconnaissance Office.[20][21] For the final five missions (12-16) including modifications, ULA has been awarded US$2.2 billion, or US$440 million per launch.[22] This can be compared with the Falcon Heavy launch price of $90M to $150M. As of December 2020, these are the final missions.[23]
Date (UTC) | Payload | Client | Launch site |
---|---|---|---|
Q1 2021 (13th mission) | NROL-82 | NRO | Vandenberg, SLC-6 |
2022 (14th mission) | NROL-91 | NRO | Vandenberg, SLC-6 |
2022 (15th mission) | NROL-68 | NRO | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B |
2023 (16th mission) | NROL-70 | NRO | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B |
Current:
Development:
Retired or cancelled:
Delta IV Heavy goes for about $350M. That's current and future, after the retirement of both Delta IV Medium and Delta II.
The ULA Delta 4-Heavy is currently the world's largest rocket, providing the nation with reliable, proven, heavy lift capability for our country's national security payloads from both the east and west coasts.
The Falcon Heavy is capable of lifting 140,000 pounds to low-Earth orbit, more than any other rocket today.