List of Delta 4-M launches
 Delta 4 Medium launch carrying DSCS III-B6. | |
| Function | 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 | 550,000 lb (250,000 kg) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Mass | 25,287 lb (11,470 kg) |
| Payload to GTO | |
| Mass | 9,799 lb (4,445 kg) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Delta Delta 4 Medium |
| Comparable | |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral SLC-6, Vandenberg |
| Total launches | 3 |
| Success(es) | 3 |
| First flight | 20 November 2002 (Eutelsat W5) |
| Last flight | November 4, 2006 (DMSP 17) |
| Type of passengers/cargo | |
| First stage – 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 |
About the Delta 4-M
The Delta IV Medium (also referred to as 'single stick'[2][3]) was available in four configurations: Medium, Medium+ (4,2), Medium+ (5,2), and Medium+ (5,4).[4]
The Delta IV Medium (Delta 9040) was the most basic Delta IV. It featured a single CBC and a modified Delta III 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.[5]
The Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) (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.[5]
The Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) (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.[5]
The Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) (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.[5]
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 Delta 4 Medium family often flew with Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. It flew 6 second generation Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites to orbit. After the second generation Global Positioning System (GPS) had all been launched, it launch a third generation Global Positioning System (GPS) only it final flight. The Medium (4,2) version last flew on 22 August 2019, marking the retirement of the Delta IV Medium variants.[4][6]
Launch Statistics
Launch Outcomes
Launch sites
Orbits
Customers
Launch History
| Flight | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket Configuration | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch
outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 11, 2003
00:59 |
Delta 4-M | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-167 (DSCS-3 A3) | Classified | GTO | US Air Force | Success[7] |
| Military communications satellite, First Delta 4 Medium launch, First USAF EELV mission | ||||||||
| 2 | August 29, 2003
23:13 |
Delta 4-M | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-170 (DSCS-3 B6) | Classified | GTO | US Air Force | Success[7] |
| Military communications satellite | ||||||||
| 3 | November 4, 2006
13:53 |
Delta 4-M | VAFB SLC-6 | DMSP F17 | Classified | SSO | DoD | Success[8] |
| First Delta 4 launch into a LEO/SSO, Military weather satellite. Final Delta 4-M launch. | ||||||||
See also
List of Thor and Delta launches
List of 2000-2009 Thor and Delta launches
List of Delta 4 Heavy launches
List of Delta 4 Medium launches
Refernces
- ^ http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-17-609
- ^ Clark, Stephen. "Final 'single stick' Delta 4-Medium rocket arrives at Florida launch pad – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ^ Ray, Justin. "Air Force assigns new Delta 4 rocket launch – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ^ a b Gebhardt, Chris (2019-08-22). "Delta IV Medium's well-earned retirement with GPS finale". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
- ^ a b c d "Delta IV Launch Services User's Guide" (PDF). United Launch Alliance. June 2013. pp. 2–10, 5–3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-10. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
- ^ Berger, Eric (2019-08-22). "The last single-stick Delta rocket launched Thursday, and it put on a show". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
- ^ a b "Delta 4 rocket successfully begins military service". Spaceflight Now. March 10, 2003.
- ^ "Military weather satellite rockets into polar orbit". Spaceflight Now. November 4, 2006.