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List of Delta IV Medium Launches
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The content is sourced from: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Astronomy:List_of_Delta_IV_Medium_launches

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.

satellite rockets delta

1. About the Delta 4 Medium

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]

2. Launch Statistics

2.1. Rocket Configurations

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2.2. Launch Outcomes

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2.3. Launch Sites

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2.4. Orbits

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2.5. Customers

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3. Launch History

Table
 
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)

References

  1. Clark, Stephen. "Final 'single stick' Delta 4-Medium rocket arrives at Florida launch pad – Spaceflight Now" (in en-US). https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/06/07/final-single-stick-delta-4-medium-rocket-arrives-at-florida-launch-pad/. ;
  2. Ray, Justin. "Air Force assigns new Delta 4 rocket launch – Spaceflight Now" (in en-US). https://spaceflightnow.com/2015/09/10/air-force-assigns-new-delta-4-rocket-launch/. ;
  3. Gebhardt, Chris (2019-08-22). "Delta IV Medium's well-earned retirement with GPS finale". NASASpaceFlight.com. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/08/delta-iv-medium-retirement-gps-finale/. ;
  4. "Delta IV Launch Services User's Guide". United Launch Alliance. June 2013. pp. 2–10, 5-3. http://www.ulalaunch.com/uploads/docs/Launch_Vehicles/Delta_IV_Users_Guide_June_2013.pdf. ;
  5. Berger, Eric (2019-08-22). "The last single-stick Delta rocket launched Thursday, and it put on a show". Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/08/the-last-single-stick-delta-rocket-launched-thursday-and-it-put-on-a-show/. ;
  6. "Boeing's Delta 4 rocket debuts successfully". Spaceflight Now. November 20, 2002. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/delta4/021120launch/. ;
  7. "Delta 4 rocket successfully begins military service". Spaceflight Now. March 10, 2003. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d296/. ;
  8. "Delta 4 rocket delivers last Air Force DSCS satellite". Spaceflight Now. August 29, 2003. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d300/. ;
  9. "Weather observatory for Americas ascends to space". Spaceflight Now. May 24, 2006. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d315/. ;
  10. "New era of rocket launches begins at California base". Spaceflight Now. June 27, 2006. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d317/. ;
  11. "Military weather satellite rockets into polar orbit". Spaceflight Now. November 4, 2006. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d320/. ;
  12. "NASA and NOAA's GOES-O Satellite Successfully Launched". NASA KSC. 2009-06-27. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/releases/2009/release-20090627.html. ;
  13. Ray, Justin (2009-12-05). "New communications craft launched for U.S. military". Spaceflight Now. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d346/. ;
  14. "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NASA/NOAA Weather Satellite Mission". United Launch Alliance. 4 March 2010. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/47. ;
  15. "ULA Marks Delta 50th Anniversary with Successful Delta IV GPS IIF SV-1 Launch". United Launch Alliance. 27 May 2010. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/50. ;
  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. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/73/. ;
  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. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/93/. ;
  18. "United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches Payload for the National Reconnaissance Office". United Launch Alliance. 3 April 2012. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/99/. ;
  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. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/121/. ;
  20. "United Launch Alliance Provides Update to Global Positioning System Launch". United Launch Alliance. 5 October 2012. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/122/. ;
  21. "United Launch Alliance Launches Second Successful Mission for U.S. Air Force in Just Nine Days". United Launch Alliance. 24 May 2013. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/141/. ;
  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. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/150/. ;
  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. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/167/. ;
  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. http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-successfully-launches-second-global.aspx?title=United+Launch+Alliance+Successfully+Launches+Second+Global+Positioning+System+Satellite+for+the+U.S.+Air+Force+in+Less+Than+Three+Months. ;
  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. http://www.ulalaunch.com/ULA-Delta-IV-Launches-AFSPC-4.aspx?title=United+Launch+Alliance+Marks+85th+Successful+Launch+by+Delivering+Three+Satellites+into+Orbit+for+the+U.S.+Air+Force+. ;
  26. "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Mission in Less than Two Weeks". United Launch Alliance. 26 March 2015. http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-launches-gpsiif9-for-US-Air-Force.aspx?title=United+Launch+Alliance+Successfully+Launches+Second+Mission+in+Less+than+Two+Weeks. ;
  27. "Delta 4 rocket evolving to upgraded main engine". Spaceflight Now. 27 March 2015. http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/03/27/delta-4-rocket-evolving-the-upgraded-main-engine/. ;
  28. "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-7". United Launch Alliance. 23 July 2015. http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-successfully-launches-wgs7.aspx. ;
  29. "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-45 Payload for the National Reconnaissance Office". United Launch Alliance. 10 February 2016. http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-successfully-launches-nrol45.aspx?title=United+Launch+Alliance+Successfully+Launches+NROL-45+Payload+for+the+National+Reconnaissance+Office&;Category=1. 
  30. "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches AFSPC6 Mission for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 19 August 2016. http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-successfully-launches-afspc6.aspx. ;
  31. "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS8 Mission for the U.S. Air Force". 7 December 2016. http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-successfully-launches-wgs8.aspx?title=United+Launch+Alliance+Successfully+Launches+WGS-8+Mission+for+the+U.S.+Air+Force. ;
  32. "Delta IV to Launch WGS-9 for the U.S. Air Force". 18 March 2017. http://www.ulalaunch.com/delta-iv-to-launch-wgs9.aspx?title=Delta+IV+to+Launch+WGS-9+for+the+U.S.+Air+Force. ;
  33. "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-47 Mission for the National Reconnaissance Office". 12 January 2018. http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-successfully-launches-nrol47-mission.aspx. ;
  34. "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-10 Mission". 16 March 2019. https://www.ulalaunch.com/about/news-detail/2019/03/16/united-launch-alliance-successfully-launches-wgs-10-mission. ;
  35. "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches GPS III Satellite for U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center". 22 August 2019. https://www.ulalaunch.com/about/news/2019/08/22/united-launch-alliance-successfully-launches-gps-iii-satellite-for-u.s.-air-force-space-and-missile-systems-center. ;
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