Delta IV

The Delta IV is a rocket made to launch satellites. It has many different types including Medium, Medium+, and Heavy for many different types of satellites orbiting at many different altitudes above the Earth. The Delta IV launches at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.[1]

The Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) with the GOES-N satellite, lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Launches

The Delta IV has launched 32 times. The first flight was on November 20, 2002, and it launched the Eutelsat W5 communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).

Types

The Delta IV rocket comes in many different types meant to launch different sizes and kinds of satellites.

The different kinds of Delta IV rockets.

Delta IV Medium

The least powerful kind of the Delta IV rocket is the Medium type. It has 1 main Common Booster Core (CBC) as the first stage of the rocket, using the RS-68 engine, and the second stage is like from the Delta III rocket, but it has been changed. It uses a 4-meter payload fairing to cover the satellite during the launch of the rocket. This kind has launched 3 times.

The Delta IV Heavy with NROL-49, a top secret spy satellite, lifting off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)

The Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) is like the Medium type, but it has two GEM-60 solid rocket boosters strapped onto the CBC. This kind has launched 13 times, and is the kind of Delta IV rocket that has launched the most times.

Delta IV Medium+ (5,2)

The Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) is like the (4,2), but the second stage and fairing has a larger diameter. This kind has launched 2 times.

Delta IV Medium+ (5,4)

The Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) is like the (5,2), but it has two more GEM-60 solid rocket boosters. This kind has launched 5 times.

Delta IV Heavy

The Delta IV Heavy is the biggest kind of Delta IV rockets. It has two CBC strapped onto it like solid rocket boosters. This kind has launched 9 times, and is the most powerful rocket currently doing launches[2] (the most powerful rocket ever is the Saturn V).

References
  1. "Delta IV - United Launch Alliance". United Launch Alliance. Retrieved 26 May 2016. With operational launch pads on both coasts—Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., and Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.—every Delta IV configuration is available to service the requirements of current and future satellite programs.
  2. "Mission Status Center". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 1 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.

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