Delta IV Heavy
 Delta IV Heavy launches from Vandenberg AFB | |
| Function | Orbital heavy-lift launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | United Launch Alliance |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Cost per launch | $350 million[1] |
| 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 | 10 |
| Success(es) | 9 |
| Partial failure(s) | 1 |
| First flight | 21 December 2004 (USA-181) |
| Last flight | 12 August 2018 (Parker Solar Probe) |
| Type of passengers/cargo | |
| Boosters (CBC) | |
| No. boosters | 2 |
| Height | 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] |
| Powered by | 1 RS-68A |
| Maximum 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] |
| Propellant | LH2 / LOX |
| First stage (CBC) | |
| Height | 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) |
| Powered by | 1 RS-68A |
| Maximum 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 |
| Propellant | LH2 / LOX |
| Second stage (DCSS) | |
| Height | 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) |
| Powered by | 1 RL10-B-2 |
| Maximum thrust | 110 kN (25,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 462 s (4.53 km/s) |
| Burn time | 1,125 seconds |
| Propellant | 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.[4][5] It is manufactured by United Launch Alliance and was first launched in 2004.[6]
The Delta IV Heavy uses two additional Common Booster Cores (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]
History
.jpg)
The Delta family of rockets was developed by McDonnell Douglas, later United Launch Alliance, and the Delta IV Heavy is heavier lifting version of family compared to smaller rockets like the Delta IV Medium.[7] The Delta IV Heavy can lift 28,370 kg (62,540 lbs) to low earth orbit and 13,810 kg (30,440 lbs) to geostationary transfer orbit.[7] It is a overall 2 stage rocket, with two strap-on boosters, all liquid-fuel rockets.[7]
The first launch of the Delta IV Heavy in 2004 carried a boilerplate payload (dummy payload) and failed to reach intended orbit. 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.[8] 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.[citation needed]
In December 2014, the Delta IV Heavy was used to launch an uncrewed test flight of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle, designated EFT-1. After several delays on December 4,[9] the mission was successfully launched at 12:05 UTC on December 5.[10]
When introduced, the Delta IV Heavy had the largest payload capability of all operational rockets. It was overtaken in February 2018 with the maiden launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy.[11]
Capability
Capacity of the Delta IV Heavy:
- Low Earth orbit (LEO), 200 km × 28.7°: 28,790 kg (63,470 lb)[12]
- Low Earth orbit (ISS), 407 km × 51.6°: 25,980 kg (57,280 lb)[13]
- Geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO): 14,220 kg (31,350 lb)[12]
- Geosynchronous orbit (GEO): 6,750 kg (14,880 lb)[12]
- Lunar transfer orbit (LTO): 10,000 kg (22,000 lb)
- Mars transfer orbit: 8,000 kg (17,600 lb)[14]
The Delta IV Heavy's total mass at launch is approximately 733,000 kg (1,616,000 lb). For comparison, the total mass at launch of the Saturn V used in the Apollo program was 2,970,000 kg (6,550,000 lb).
Launch history
| Date | Payload[15] | Mass | Launch site | Outcome[15] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 21, 2004 | DemoSat, Sparkie / 3CS-1 and Ralphie / 3CS-2 | ~6000 kg | Cape CanaveralA | Partial FailureC |
| Nov. 11, 2007 | DSP-23 Defense Support Program | 5,250 kg | Cape CanaveralA | Success |
| Jan. 18, 2009 | Orion 6 / Mentor 4 (USA-202 / NROL-26) | Classified | Cape CanaveralA | Success |
| Nov. 21, 2010 | Orion 7 / Mentor 5 (USA-223 / NROL-32) | Classified | Cape CanaveralA | Success |
| Jan. 20, 2011 | KH-11 Kennen 15 (USA-224 / NROL-49) | <17,000 kg | VandenbergB | Success |
| June 29, 2012 | Orion 8 / Mentor 6 (USA-237 / NROL-15) | Classified | Cape CanaveralA | Success |
| Aug. 28, 2013 | KH-11 Kennen 16 (USA-245 / NROL-65) | <17,000 kg | VandenbergB | Success |
| Dec. 05, 2014 | Orion capsule Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) | 25,848 kg | Cape CanaveralA | Success |
| June 11, 2016 | Orion 9 / Mentor 7 (USA-268 / NROL-37) | Classified | Cape CanaveralA | Success |
| August 12, 2018 | Parker Solar ProbeD | 685 kg | Cape CanaveralA | Success |
^A Launched from Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B
^B Launched from Vandenberg, SLC-6
^C CBCs underperformed, lower orbit than planned
^D Star 48BV upper stage
Upcoming launches
The following missions have been announced by NASA and the National Reconnaissance Office.[16]
| Date | Payload | Client[15] | Launch site |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | NROL-71 | NRO | Vandenberg SLC-6 |
| 2019 | NROL-44 | NRO | Cape Canaveral SLC-37B |
| 2020 | NROL-82 | NRO | Vandenberg SLC-6 |
| 2021 | NROL-68 | NRO | Cape Canaveral SLC-37B |
| 2022 | NROL-70 | NRO | Cape Canaveral SLC-37B |
| 2023 | NROL-91 | NRO | Vandenberg SLC-6 |
Comparable vehicles
- Ariane 5 (current)
- Long March 5 (current)
- Proton-M (current)
- Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (current)
- Angara A5 (in development)
- Falcon Heavy (current)
- New Glenn (in development)
- Atlas V Heavy (cancelled)
- Saturn IB (retired)
- Titan III (retired)
- Titan IV (retired)
See also
- Heavy-lift launch vehicle
- Comparison of orbital launch systems
- Comparison of orbital rocket engines
- Comparison of space station cargo vehicles
- National Launch System, (1991–1993) study
References
- ^ "ULA CEO Tory Bruno". Twitter. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
Delta IV Heavy goes for about $350M. That's current and future, after the retirement of both Delta IV Medium and Delta II.
- ^ "Delta IV Heavy". Spaceflight 101. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ a b "Delta IV Payload Planner's Guide, June 2013" (PDF). United Launch Alliance. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ "Mission Status Center". SpaceflightNow. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
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.
- ^ "Falcon Heavy, SpaceX's Big New Rocket, Succeeds in Its First Test Launch". NYTimes. Retrieved Feb 6, 2018.
The Falcon Heavy is capable of lifting 140,000 pounds to low-Earth orbit, more than any other rocket today.
- ^ "Boeing Delta IV Heavy Achieves Major Test Objectives in First Flight" Archived 2012-04-19 at the Wayback Machine, Boeing, 2004, accessed March 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Delta IV Heavy: Powerful Launch Vehicle". Space.com. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
- ^ "Delta 4-Heavy investigation identifies rocket's problem". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ Bergin, Chris (2012-01-18). "EFT-1 set to receive Spring, 2014 launch date after contract negotiations". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ "Second Stage Ignites as First Stage Falls Away".
- ^ "SpaceX Launch of the Falcon Heavy". Launch live coverage. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c "Delta IV Launch Services User's Guide" (PDF). United Launch Alliance. 2013-10-14. pp. 2–10, 5–3. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 14, 2013.
- ^ "Delta IV Data Sheet". Space Launch Report. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ Ray, Justin (December 7, 2004). "The Heavy: Triple-sized Delta 4 rocket to debut". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on December 11, 2004. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
- ^ a b c Krebs, Gunter. "Delta-4". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ Ray, Justin (June 7, 2016). "Surveillance satellite launching Thursday atop Delta 4-Heavy rocket". Spaceflight Now.
External links
Thor and Delta rockets | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockets |
|  | ||||||||||||
| Launch sites |
| |||||||||||||
| Components |
| |||||||||||||
| Manufacturers |
| |||||||||||||
| Launches | ||||||||||||||