List of Delta IV Medium launches

Since November 2002, rockets from the Delta IV 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.

## Delta IV Medium configurations[edit]

The Delta IV 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]

* Delta IV Medium, coded 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 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.[4]

* Delta IV Medium+ (4,2), coded 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]

* Delta IV Medium+ (5,2), coded 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]

* Delta IV Medium+ (5,4), coded 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 IV Medium variants.[3][5]

## Launch Statistics[edit]

### Rocket configurations[edit]

2002

2003

2006

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

* Medium
* Medium+ (4,2)
* Medium+ (5,2)
* Medium+ (5,4)

### Launch outcomes[edit]

2002

2003

2006

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

### Launch sites[edit]

2002

2003

2006

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

* Cape Canaveral SLC-37B
* Vandenberg SLC-6

### Orbits[edit]

2002

2003

2006

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

* GTO
* Molniya
* SSO
* MEO
* GEO

### Customers[edit]

2002

2003

2006

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

* Eutelsat
* USAF
* NASA
* NOAA
* NRO
* DoD
* AFRL

## Launch History[edit]

Flight  | Date / time (UTC)  | Rocket Configuration  | Launch site  | Payload  | Payload mass  | Orbit  | Customer  | Launch
outcome

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | November 20, 2002
22:39  | Delta IV Medium+ (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 Medium  | CCAFS SLC-37B  | USA-167 (DSCS-3 A3)  | Classified | GTO | US Air Force | Success[7]
Military communications satellite, First Delta IV Medium launch, First USAF EELV mission
3  | August 29, 2003
23:13  | Delta IV Medium  | 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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium  | 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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (5,4)  | CCAFS SLC-37B  | USA-211 (WGS-3)  | 13,199 pounds (5,987 kilograms)  | GTO | US Air Force | Success[13]
First Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) launch, Communication satellite
9  | 4 March 2010
23:57  | Delta IV Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (5,2)  | VAFB SLC-6 | USA-234 (NROL-25)  | Classified | LEO | US NRO | Success[18]
First Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) launch, Reconnaissance satellite
15  | 4 October 2012
12:10  | Delta IV Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (5,4)  | CCAFS, 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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (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 Medium+ (4,2)  | CCAFS, 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)

## See also[edit]

* List of Delta IV launches
* List of Delta IV Heavy launches
* List of Thor and Delta launches
* List of Thor and Delta launches (2000-2009)
* List of Thor and Delta launches (2010-2019)
* Delta (rocket family)
* Delta IV Medium
* Delta IV Heavy
* Delta IV

## References[edit]

1. ^ Clark, Stephen. "Final 'single stick' Delta 4-Medium rocket arrives at Florida launch pad – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved 2020-11-01.
2. ^ Ray, Justin. "Air Force assigns new Delta 4 rocket launch – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved 2020-11-01.
3. ^ a b Gebhardt, Chris (2019-08-22). "Delta IV Medium's well-earned retirement with GPS finale". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
4. ^ 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.
5. ^ 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.
6. ^ "Boeing's Delta 4 rocket debuts successfully". Spaceflight Now. November 20, 2002.
7. ^ "Delta 4 rocket successfully begins military service". Spaceflight Now. March 10, 2003.
8. ^ "Delta 4 rocket delivers last Air Force DSCS satellite". Spaceflight Now. August 29, 2003.
9. ^ "Weather observatory for Americas ascends to space". Spaceflight Now. May 24, 2006.
10. ^ "New era of rocket launches begins at California base". Spaceflight Now. June 27, 2006.
11. ^ "Military weather satellite rockets into polar orbit". Spaceflight Now. November 4, 2006.
12. ^ "NASA and NOAA's GOES-O Satellite Successfully Launched". NASA KSC. 2009-06-27.
13. ^ Ray, Justin (2009-12-05). "New communications craft launched for U.S. military". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
14. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NASA/NOAA Weather Satellite Mission". United Launch Alliance. 4 March 2010. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
15. ^ "ULA Marks Delta 50th Anniversary with Successful Delta IV GPS IIF SV-1 Launch". United Launch Alliance. 27 May 2010. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
16. ^ "United Launch Alliance Marks the 50th Successful GPS Launch for the Air Force with the Delivery of the GPS IIF-2 Mission to orbit". United Launch Alliance. 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
17. ^ "United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches US Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) Satellite". United Launch Alliance. 19 January 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
18. ^ "United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches Payload for the National Reconnaissance Office". United Launch Alliance. 3 April 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
19. ^ "United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 4 October 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
20. ^ "United Launch Alliance Provides Update to Global Positioning System Launch". United Launch Alliance. 5 October 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
21. ^ "United Launch Alliance Launches Second Successful Mission for U.S. Air Force in Just Nine Days". United Launch Alliance. 24 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
22. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Wideband Global SATCOM Mission for U.S. Air Force in Less Than Three Months". United Launch Alliance. 8 August 2013. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
23. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches 25th Delta IV Mission Carrying Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 21 February 2014. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
24. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force in Less Than Three Months". United Launch Alliance. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
25. ^ "United Launch Alliance Marks 85th Successful Launch by Delivering Three Satellites into Orbit for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 29 July 2014. Archived from the original on 5 August 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
26. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Mission in Less than Two Weeks". United Launch Alliance. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
27. ^ "Delta 4 rocket evolving to upgraded main engine". Spaceflight Now. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
28. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-7". United Launch Alliance. 23 July 2015. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
29. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-45 Payload for the National Reconnaissance Office". United Launch Alliance. 10 February 2016. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
30. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches AFSPC6 Mission for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
31. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS8 Mission for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
32. ^ "Delta IV to Launch WGS-9 for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
33. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-47 Mission for the National Reconnaissance Office". United Launch Alliance. 12 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
34. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-10 Mission". United Launch Alliance. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
35. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches GPS III Satellite for U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center". United Launch Alliance. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.