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Delta IV Heavy
72m
Human (1.8m)
1.8m
Delta IV Heavy / Credits: Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons)
United StatesRetired2004–2024
Delta IV Heavy
ULA
ULA's triple-core heavy-lift rocket, primarily used for classified national security payloads.
Delta IV Heavy consists of three Common Booster Core (CBC) liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen stages strapped together. It was one of the most powerful American rockets until Falcon Heavy. Delta IV Heavy launched the Orion EFT-1 mission and numerous NRO reconnaissance satellites. Its final flight was in April 2024.
Fun facts
At ignition, hydrogen flames briefly engulf the entire rocket — creating a dramatic fireball that is normal and expected.
Delta IV Heavy launched the first Orion capsule test flight in 2014, reaching 5,800 km altitude.
Each of its three cores burns liquid hydrogen — the coldest rocket propellant in use at -253°C.
Height
72 m
Diameter
15 m
Mass
733 t
Stages
2
Thrust
9,420 kN
Payload LEO
28,370 kg
Payload GTO
14,220 kg
Total flights
16
Success rate96.9%
15 success1 partial0 failure
Launch pads
- SLC-6, Vandenberg
- LC-37B, Cape Canaveral
No upcoming launches scheduled.
