Delta family
Delta IV Heavy
The Delta IV Heavy (Delta 9250H) is an expendable heavy-lift launch vehicle, the largest type of the Delta IV family, and is the world's second highest-capacity rocket in operation. It is manufactured by United Launch Alliance and was first launched in 2004.
Flights flown16
Success rate93.8%15/16
Payload to LEO28,370kg
Cost per kg to LEO$12,337$350M per launch
Maiden flight2004-12-21
Peak year20041 flight
Delta IV Heavy is built by United Launch Alliance of the United States. Company background, funding, contracts and news for this operator are tracked on Space Index. It first flew on 21 December 2004 and last flew on 9 April 2024.
Flight record
93.8% success rate15 of 16 flown · 1 failed
2004peak 2004 · 1 flight2024
First flight2004-12-21
Latest flight2024-04-09
Failures1
Consecutive successes15
Fastest turnaround59d 22h
Payload
| Low Earth orbit | 28,370kg |
|---|---|
| Geostationary transfer orbit | 14,210kg |
| Geostationary orbit | 14,500kg |
| Launch cost | $350M |
| Cost per kg to LEO | $12,337 |
Vehicle
| Stages | 2 |
|---|---|
| Length | 72m |
| Diameter | 5m |
| Launch mass | 733t |
| Liftoff thrust | 8,674kN |
| Maiden flight | 2004-12-21 |
| Reusable | No |
Pads used
Orbits delivered
Low Earth Orbit6Geostationary Transfer Orbit3Geostationary Orbit2Geosynchronous Orbit2Heliocentric N/A1Sun-Synchronous Orbit1
Launch history
| Date | Mission | Pad | Orbit | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-09 | Delta IV Heavy | NROL-70 | Space Launch Complex 37B | Geostationary Orbit | Success |
| 2023-06-22 | Delta IV Heavy | NROL-68 | Space Launch Complex 37B | Geostationary Orbit | Success |
| 2022-09-24 | Delta IV Heavy | NROL-91 | Space Launch Complex 6 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2021-04-26 | Delta IV Heavy | NROL-82 | Space Launch Complex 6 | Sun-Synchronous Orbit | Success |
| 2020-12-11 | Delta IV Heavy | NROL-44 | Space Launch Complex 37B | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2019-01-19 | Delta IV Heavy | NROL-71 | Space Launch Complex 6 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2018-08-12 | Delta IV Heavy | Parker Solar Probe | Space Launch Complex 37B | Heliocentric N/A | Success |
| 2016-06-11 | Delta IV Heavy | NROL-37 | Space Launch Complex 37A | Geostationary Transfer Orbit | Success |
| 2014-12-05 | Delta IV Heavy | EFT-1 | Space Launch Complex 37B | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2013-08-28 | Delta IV Heavy | NROL-65 (USA-245 / KH-11) | Space Launch Complex 6 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2012-06-29 | Delta IV Heavy | NROL-15 (Mentor) (USA-237) | Space Launch Complex 37B | Geosynchronous Orbit | Success |
| 2011-01-20 | Delta IV Heavy | NROL-49 (KH-11) (USA-224) | Space Launch Complex 6 | Low Earth Orbit | Success |
| 2010-11-21 | Delta IV Heavy | NROL-32 (Mentor) (USA-223) | Space Launch Complex 37B | Geosynchronous Orbit | Success |
| 2009-01-18 | Delta IV Heavy | NROL-26 (USA-202) | Space Launch Complex 37B | Geostationary Transfer Orbit | Success |
| 2007-11-11 | Delta IV Heavy | DSP-23 | Space Launch Complex 37B | Geostationary Transfer Orbit | Success |
| 2004-12-21 | Delta IV Heavy | Demosat and 3CS-1 & 2 | Space Launch Complex 37B | Failure |
Specifications from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs, launch records from Space Index. Derived figures are computed here; see sources and method.
Further reading: Wikipedia · Operator page