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 | $375 million[1] |
| 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 | 28,790 kg (63,470 lb) |
| Payload to GTO | 14,220 kg (31,350 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Delta IV |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral |
| Total launches | 8 |
| Successes | 7 |
| Partial failures | 1 |
| First flight | December 21, 2004 |
| Boosters (CBC) | |
| No. boosters | 2 |
| Length | 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)[2] |
| Engines | 1 RS-68A |
| Thrust | 3,140 kN (710,000 lbf) |
| Total thrust | 6,280 kN (1,410,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | Sea level: 360 sec Vacuum: 412 sec |
| Burn time | 242 seconds[3] |
| Fuel | LH2/LOX |
| First stage (CBC) | |
| Length | 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) |
| Engines | 1 RS-68A |
| Thrust | 3,140 kN (710,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | Sea level: 360 sec Vacuum: 412 sec |
| Burn time | 328 seconds |
| Fuel | LH2/LOX |
| Second stage (DCSS) | |
| Length | 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) |
| Engines | 1 RL10-B-2 |
| Thrust | 110 kN (25,000 lbf) |
| Specific impulse | 462 s (4.53 km/s) |
| Burn time | 1,125 seconds |
| Fuel | 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 highest capacity rocket currently in operation.[4] It was first launched in 2004.[5]
The Delta IV Heavy uses two additional Common Booster Cores 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]
The first launch of the Delta IV Heavy in 2004 carried a boilerplate payload, and was a partial failure. Cavitation in the liquid oxygen propellant lines caused shutdown of both boosters 8 seconds early, and the core engine 9 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.[6] 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.
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,[7] the mission was successfully launched at 12:05 UTC on December 5.[8]
Capacity of the Delta IV Heavy:
- Low Earth orbit (LEO), 200 km × 28.7°: 28,790 kg (63,470 lb)[9]
- Low Earth orbit (ISS), 407 km × 51.6°: 25,980 kg (57,280 lb)[10]
- Geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO): 14,220 kg (31,350 lb)[9]
- Geosynchronous orbit (GEO): 6,750 kg (14,880 lb)[9]
- Lunar transfer orbit (LTO) 10,000 kg (22,000 lb) / Mars transfer orbit 8,000 kg (17,600 lb)[11]
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 use on the Apollo program, heaviest payload launched on record, was 2,970,000 kg (6,550,000 lb).
Launch history
| Date | Payload[12] |
|---|---|
| Dec. 21, 2004 | DemoSat, 3CS-1 and 3CS-2 |
| Nov. 11, 2007 | DSP-23 Defense Support Program |
| Jan. 18, 2009 | Orion 6 satellite - (USA 202, NROL 26) |
| Nov. 21, 2010 | Orion 7 satellite - (USA-223, - NROL 32) |
| Jan. 20, 2011 | KH-11 Kennan 15 (USA-224, - NROL 49) |
| June 29, 2012 | Orion 8 satellite - (USA-237, NROL 15) |
| Aug. 28, 2013 | KH-11 Kennan 16 - (USA-245, NROL 65) |
| Dec. 05, 2014 | Orion Exploration Flight Test 1 -(EFT-1) |
Upcoming launches
| Date | Payload |
|---|---|
| June 4, 2016 | Orion 9 satellite - (NROL-37)[13] |
| July 31, 2018 | Solar Probe Plus |
| 2018 | (NROL-71) |
| 2019 | (NROL-44) |
| 2020 | (NROL-68) |
Comparable vehicles
- Angara 5 (current)
- Ariane 5 (current)
- Atlas V (current)
- Proton-M (current)
- Titan IV (retired)
- Long March 5 (in development)
- Space Launch System (in development)
- Falcon 9 full thrust
- Falcon Heavy (in development)
See also
- Medium-lift launch vehicle
- Comparison of orbital launch systems
- Comparison of orbital rocket engines
- Comparison of space station cargo vehicles
- Rocket
- Spacecraft propulsion
References
- ↑ "Solar Probe Plus, NASA’s ‘Mission to the Fires of Hell,’ Trading Atlas 5 for Bigger Launch Vehicle". Space Now. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ↑ "Delta IV Heavy". Spaceflight 101. Retrieved July 2014.
- 1 2 "Delta IV Payload Planner's Guide, June 2013" (PDF). United Launch Alliance. Retrieved July 2014.
- ↑ "Mission Status Center". SpaceflightNow. Retrieved July 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.
- ↑ "Boeing Delta IV Heavy Achieves Major Test Objectives in First Flight", Boeing, 2004, accessed March 22, 2012
- ↑ "Delta 4-Heavy investigation identifies rocket's problem". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved July 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".
- 1 2 3 "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 December 11, 2004.
- ↑ "Delta IV Data Sheet". Space Launch Report. Retrieved July 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.
- ↑ Space Skyrocket, Delta-4
- ↑ Delta 4-Heavy, NROL-37