Since November 2002, rockets from the Delta 4 Medium family have been launched 29 times, all of which were successful. Its last flight was with a 3rd generation GPS satellite in August 2019.
The Delta 4 Medium (also referred to as 'single stick'[1][2]) was available in four configurations: Medium, Medium+ (4,2), Medium+ (5,2), and Medium+ (5,4).[3]
The Delta 4 Medium (Delta 9040) was the most basic Delta IV. It featured a single CBC and a modified Delta 3 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 4 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.[4]
The Delta 4 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.[4]
The Delta 4 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.[4]
The Delta 4 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.[4]
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 Medium (4,2) version last flew on 22 August 2019, marking the retirement of the Delta 4 Medium variants.[3][5]
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Flight | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket Configuration | Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | November 20, 2002 22:39 |
Delta IV-M+ (4,2) | CCAFS SLC-37B | Eutelsat W5 | 3,086 pounds (1,400 kilograms) | GTO | Eutelsat | Success[6] |
First Delta IV launch, Commercial communications satellite | ||||||||
2 | March 11, 2003 00:59 |
Delta IV-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 | ||||||||
3 | August 29, 2003 23:13 |
Delta IV-M | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-170 (DSCS-3 B6) | Classified | GTO | US Air Force | Success[8] |
Military communications satellite | ||||||||
4 | May 24, 2006 22:11 |
Delta IV-M+ (4,2) | CCAFS SLC-37B | GOES-N (GOES-13) | 6,908 pounds (3,133 kilograms) | GTO | NASA/NOAA | Success[9] |
First Delta IV launch for NASA, Weather satellite | ||||||||
5 | June 28, 2006 03:33 |
Delta IV-M+ (4,2) | VAFB SLC-6 | NROL-22 | Classified | Molniya | US NRO | Success[10] |
First Delta IV launch from Vandenberg, Reconnaissance satellite | ||||||||
6 | November 4, 2006 13:53 |
Delta IV-M | VAFB SLC-6 | DMSP F17 | Classified | SSO | DoD | Success[11] |
First Delta IV launch into a LEO/SSO, Military weather satellite | ||||||||
7 | June 27, 2009 22:51 |
Delta IV-M+ (4,2) | CCAFS SLC-37B | GOES-O (GOES-14) | 6,908 pounds (3,133 kilograms) | GTO | NASA/NOAA | Success[12] |
Weather satellite | ||||||||
8 | December 6, 2009 01:47 |
Delta IV-M+ (5,4) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-211 (WGS-3) | 13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms) | GTO | US Air Force | Success[13] |
First Delta 4 Medium+ (5,4) launch, Communication satellite | ||||||||
9 | 4 March 2010 23:57 |
Delta IV M+ (4,2) | CCAFS SLC-37B | GOES-P (GOES-15) | 7,139 pounds (3,238 kilograms) | GTO | NASA | Success[14] |
NOAA Weather satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program. Replaced GOES-11 as the GOES West satellite. | ||||||||
10 | 28 May 2010 03:00 |
Delta IV M+ (4,2) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-213 (GPS IIF SV-1) | 3,594 pounds (1,630 kilograms) | MEO | US Air Force | Success[15] |
Navigation satellite | ||||||||
11 | 11 March 2011 23:38 |
Delta IV M+ (4,2) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-227 (NROL-27) | 5,148 pounds (2335 kilogarms) | GTO | US NRO | Success |
Military comsat. | ||||||||
12 | 16 July 2011 06:41 |
Delta IV M+ (4,2) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-232 (GPS IIF-2) | 3,594 pounds (1,630 kilograms) | MEO | US Air Force | Success[16] |
Navigation satellite | ||||||||
13 | 20 January 2012
00:38 |
Delta IV M+ (5,4) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-233 (WGS-4) | 13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms) | GTO | US Air Force | Success[17] |
Military comsat | ||||||||
14 | 3 April 2012 23:12 |
Delta IV M+ (5,2) | VAFB SLC-6 | USA-234 (NROL-25) | Classified | LEO | US NRO | Success[18] |
First Delta 4 Medium+ (5,2) launch, Reconnaissance satellite | ||||||||
15 | 4 October 2012 12:10 |
Delta IV M+ (4,2) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-239 (GPS IIF-3) | 3,594 pounds (1,630 kilograms) | MEO | US Air Force | Success[19] |
Upper stage anomaly,[20] Satellite navigation | ||||||||
16 | 25 May 2013 00:27 |
Delta IV M+ (5,4) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-243 (WGS-5) | 13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms) | GTO | US Air Force | Success[21] |
Military comsat | ||||||||
17 | 8 August 2013 00:29 |
Delta IV M+ (5,4) | Cape Canaveral Air Force Station , SLC-37B | USA-244 (WGS-6) | 13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms) | GTO | US Air Force | Success[22] |
Military comsat | ||||||||
18 | 21 February 2014 01:59 |
Delta IV M+ (4,2) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-248 (GPS IIF-5) | 3,594 pounds (1,630 kilograms) | MEO | US Air Force | Success[23] |
25th Delta IV launch, Satellite navigation | ||||||||
19 | 17 May 2014 00:03 |
Delta IV M+ (4,2) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-251 (GPS IIF-6) | 3,594 pounds (1,630 kilograms) | MEO | US Air Force | Success[24] |
Navigation satellite | ||||||||
20 | 28 July 2014 23:28 |
Delta IV M+ (4,2) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA 253-255 (AFSPC-4 (GSSAP #1/#2/ANGELS)) | Classified | GEO | DoD/AFRL | Success[25] |
Space surveillance / Technology demonstration | ||||||||
21 | 25 March 2015 18:36 |
Delta IV M+ (4,2) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-260 (GPS IIF-9) | 3,594 pounds (1,630 kilograms) | MEO | US Air Force | Success[26] |
Final launch of baseline RS-68 engine,[27] Navigation satellite | ||||||||
22 | 24 July 2015 00:07 |
Delta IV M+ (5,4) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-263 (WGS-7) | 13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms) | GTO | DoD | Success[28] |
Second flight with an RS-68A engine; New standard for Delta IV rockets, Military comsat | ||||||||
23 | 10 February 2016, 11:40 | Delta IV M+ (5,2) | VAFB SLC-6 | USA-267 (NROL-45) | Classified | LEO | US NRO | Success[29] |
Reconnaissance satellite | ||||||||
24 | 19 August 2016 04:52 |
Delta IV M+ (4,2) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-270/271 (AFSPC-6 (GSSAP #3/#4)) | Classified | GEO | DoD | Success[30] |
Space surveillance satellite | ||||||||
25 | 7 December 2016
23:53 |
Delta IV M+ (5,4) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-272 (WGS-8) | 13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms) | GTO | DoD | Success[31] |
Military comsat | ||||||||
26 | 19 March 2017 00:18 |
Delta IV M+ (5,4) | CCAFS SLC-37B | USA-275 (WGS-9) | 13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms) | GTO | DoD | Success[32] |
Military comsat | ||||||||
27 | 12 January 2018 22:11 |
Delta IV M+ (5,2) | VAFB SLC-6 | USA-281 (NROL-47) | Classified | LEO | US NRO | Success[33] |
Final flight of Delta IV M+(5,2) variant. Reconnaissance satellite. | ||||||||
28 | 16 March 2019 00:26 |
Delta IV M+ (5,4) | CCAFS, SLC-37B | USA-291 (WGS-10) | 13,199 pounds (5,987 kilogarms) | GTO | DoD | Success[34] |
Final flight of Delta IV M+(5,4) variant. Military comsat. | ||||||||
29 | 22 August 2019 13:06 |
Delta IV M+ (4,2) | Cape Canaveral Air Force Station , SLC-37B | USA-293 (GPS III-2) | 8,168 pounds (3,705 kilograms) | MEO | US Air Force | Success[35] |
Final flight of Delta IV M+(4,2) variant. 3rd generation Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) |
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[36] |
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 | 25,287 lb (11,470 kg) |
Payload to GTO | 9,799 lb (4,445 kg) |
Associated rockets | |
Family | Delta Delta 4 Medium |
Comparable | |
Launch history | |
Status | Retired |
Launch sites | SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station SLC-6, Vandenberg Air Force Base |
Total launches | 29
|
Successes | 29 |
First flight | 20 November 2002 (Eutelsat W5) |
Last flight | 22 August 2019 (USA-293/GPS III-2) |
Notable payloads |
|
First stage – CBC | |
Gross mass | 226,400 kg (499,100 lb) |
Engines | 1 RS-68A |
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) |
Fuel | 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) |
Engines | 1 RL10-B-2 |
Thrust | 110 kN (25,000 lbf) |
Specific impulse | 462 s (4.53 km/s) |
Burn time | 850-1,125 seconds |
Fuel | LH2 / LOX |