Family-level launch record combining canonical variants, historical missions, public cadence forecasts, and available payload performance specs.
Historical missions are grouped by actual launch year. Forecast cadence uses family-level launch-rate rows.
| Year | Historical missions | Forecast launches |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 |
Payload capacity by variant and target orbit when structured capacity rows are available.
| Variant | Orbit | Capacity | Altitude | Inclination | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No performance specsNo structured payload capacity rows are linked to this vehicle family. | |||||
Latest launched missions using variants in this family.
| Mission | Variant | Launch |
|---|---|---|
| USA 353 Mission | Delta 4H B | Apr 9, 2024 |
| USA 345 Mission | Delta 4H B | Jun 22, 2023 |
| USA 338 Mission | Delta 4H B | Sep 24, 2022 |
| USA 314 Mission |
Canonical variants rolled up into this launch vehicle family.
| Variant | Stages | Missions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
Delta 4H | Not stated | 8 | Retired |
Delta 4H A | Not stated | 5 | Retired |
Delta 4H B | Not stated | 3 | Retired |
Delta 4M | Not stated | 3 | Retired |
Delta 4H A |
| Apr 26, 2021 |
| USA 311 Mission | Delta 4H A | Dec 11, 2020 |
| GPS III SV02 Mission | Delta 4M+(4,2) A | Aug 22, 2019 |
| WGS 10 | Delta 4M+(5,4) A | Mar 16, 2019 |
| USA 290 Mission | Delta 4H A | Jan 19, 2019 |
Upcoming mission rows with announced launch timing.
| Mission | Variant | Announced |
|---|---|---|
No forecasted missionsNo upcoming announced mission rows are linked to this vehicle family. | ||
Delta 4M+(4,2) | Not stated | 13 | Retired |
Delta 4M+(4,2) A | Not stated | 2 | Retired |
Delta 4M+(5,2) | Not stated | 1 | Retired |
Delta 4M+(5,2) A | Not stated | 2 | Retired |
Delta 4M+(5,4) | Not stated | 4 | Retired |
Delta 4M+(5,4) A | Not stated | 4 | Retired |
Each of the three Delta IV Heavy common booster core RS-68A engines delivers 319,896 kg (312.3 kilo-Newtons) of thrust at sea level.
Delta II launched approximately four dozen GPS satellites over 20 years, and Delta IV launched seven advanced GPS models in later years.
United Launch Alliance successfully launched the first operational Delta IV Heavy on 2007-11-10 carrying a Defense Support Program satellite.
The payload fairing (PLF) used on the Delta IV is a metallic three-piece shell that is 5 m in diameter and 19.8 m (19.8 m) long.
Each of the three Delta IV Heavy common booster core RS-68A engines produces 319,896 kg (312.3 kilo-Newtons) of thrust at sea level.
There have been 44 Delta IV launches to date and all 44 launches were successful.
The NROL-70 mission is a National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) mission launching on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy rocket.
Each of the three Delta IV Heavy booster RS-68A engines provides 319,896 kg (312.3 kilo-Newtons) of thrust at sea level.
The National Reconnaissance Office plans to launch one of its largest-ever satellites on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy vehicle.
Space Systems Command, the National Reconnaissance Office, and United Launch Alliance are preparing to launch the NROL-70 mission aboard the final Delta IV Heavy rocket no earlier than 2024-03-28 from Space Launch Complex-37B at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
SLC-37 was built in the 1960s for the Saturn I and Saturn IB rockets and was later converted by Boeing to host Delta IV launches.
The Missile Warning Link 16 to Areas of Responsibility concept prepares Overhead Persistent Infrared missile warning messages to be directly sent from SBIRS Delta 4 to theater forces including ground, airborne, and sea-based air defense platforms and selected fighter aircraft in near real time.
The combined Atlas V and Delta IV engineering team certified the launch vehicle as ready to deliver SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 to its intended orbit.
Delta IV Heavy is retiring in 2024.
The Vulcan launch vehicle can launch nearly as much mass as the Delta IV Heavy with 36% more volume.
Starship can launch more than five times as much mass as the Delta IV Heavy with more than four times the volume.
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the NROL-68 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office lifted off on 2023-06-22 from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The NROL-68 payload was launched into Geosynchronous Earth Orbit aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy for the National Reconnaissance Office.
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying the NROL-68 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office lifted off from Space Launch Complex-37B at 5:18 a.m. Eastern on 2023-06-22.
One Delta IV Heavy launch remained planned for the U.S. Space Force in 2024.