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 |
AFC Submission Pending Review
 | This article, List of Delta 4-M launches, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
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.