Difference between revisions of "Delta IV"

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[[Image:Delta4-heavy.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The '''Delta IV-Heavy''' is the largest rocket to launch (Nov. 10, 2007) in US history. Capable of carrying 13 tonnes into Earth's [[orbit]], this rocket design has obvious uses for any future mission to Mars.]]
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[[Image:Delta4-heavy.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The '''Delta IV-Heavy''' at lift-off on 11 Nov 2007.]]
  
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The '''Delta IV''' series of launchers was developed by [[Boeing]] during the late 1990s as part of the US Air Force's [[Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle]] program.  It is now manufactured and launched by the [[United Launch Alliance]] consortium.
  
  [[category:Launch vehicles]]
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Several variants of the Delta IV exist in order to cater for a wide spectrum of civilian and military mission profiles; however, only the largest of these, the '''Delta IV Heavy''' would be of major interest for Mars mission planning.
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The Heavy configuration (pictured) uses three Common Booster Cores (CBC) in parallel as its first stage, each mounting a single [[Rocketdyne]] [[RS-68]] hydrogen-oxygen engine.  It has an LEO performance of approx. 23 tonnes, but this comes at a hefty price tag of between $250 million and $300 million per launch.
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The Delta IV has been phased out and is no longer in production.  The last core was produces in 2023.  The successor launch system is the Vulcan vehicle.
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==External Links==
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* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_IV_rocket Wikipedia page.]
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* [http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/delheavy.htm Delta IV Heavy page at Astronautix.]
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* [http://www.universetoday.com/2007/11/13/gigantic-delta-4-heavy-blasts-off/ Universe Today news on the successful launch of Delta IV-Heavy on Nov. 11, 2007.]
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[[category:Exploration Transport Systems]]
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  [[category:Astronautics]]

Latest revision as of 12:00, 26 January 2024

The Delta IV-Heavy at lift-off on 11 Nov 2007.

The Delta IV series of launchers was developed by Boeing during the late 1990s as part of the US Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. It is now manufactured and launched by the United Launch Alliance consortium.

Several variants of the Delta IV exist in order to cater for a wide spectrum of civilian and military mission profiles; however, only the largest of these, the Delta IV Heavy would be of major interest for Mars mission planning.

The Heavy configuration (pictured) uses three Common Booster Cores (CBC) in parallel as its first stage, each mounting a single Rocketdyne RS-68 hydrogen-oxygen engine. It has an LEO performance of approx. 23 tonnes, but this comes at a hefty price tag of between $250 million and $300 million per launch.

The Delta IV has been phased out and is no longer in production. The last core was produces in 2023. The successor launch system is the Vulcan vehicle.

External Links