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.
facts
providerUnited Launch Alliance
countryUSA
classheavy
payload to LEOkg28,370
reusableno
first flight2004-12-21
flights total16
flights successful15
last flight2024-04-09
next flightunknown
statusretired
price per launchUSD350,000,000
payload to GTOkg14,210
heightm72
diameterm5
masskg733,000
crawled events
- notable2026-11-04ULA brings Vulcan payload fairing manufacturing in-house from Beyond Gravity
- notable2026-10-28ULA sets Nov. 13 return to flight for Vulcan after nine-month grounding
- noise2026-08-17ULA names Mark Peller president and CEO, succeeding interim chief Elbon
- notable2026-08-05Blue Origin traces New Glenn pad explosion to BE-4 engine valve
- notable2026-07-24Lockheed Martin guarantees $500 million loan to ULA amid Vulcan grounding
- notable2026-07-21Northrop Grumman takes $91 million more in charges on Vulcan booster program
- notable2026-07-17Space Force triples NSSL Lane 1 launch contract ceiling to $17 billion
- notable2026-07-13NASA moves SunRISE mission from ULA Vulcan to SpaceX Falcon Heavy
- notable2026-07-02GAO flags cost overruns, schedule risk in Space Force satellites
timeline
- 20242024-04-09ULA retires Delta IV Heavy with a final NROL-70 launch, ending the Delta programas of 2026-07-12
- 20182018-08-12Delta IV Heavy launches NASA's Parker Solar Probeas of 2026-07-12
- 20072007-11-10Delta IV Heavy completes its first fully successful operational launch, carrying DSP-23as of 2026-07-12
- 20042004-12-21Delta IV Heavy flies for the first time but falls short of intended orbitas of 2026-07-12
sources
[1] ll.thespacedevs.com ↗
provider2026-07-05country2026-07-05class2026-07-05payload to LEO (kg)2026-07-05reusable2026-07-05first flight2026-07-05flights total2026-07-05flights successful2026-07-05last flight2026-07-05status2026-07-05price per launch (USD)2026-07-05payload to GTO (kg)2026-07-10height (m)2026-07-10diameter (m)2026-07-10mass (kg)2026-07-10
faq
Who builds Delta IV Heavy?
Delta IV Heavy is built by United Launch Alliance. as of 2026-07-05
How many times has Delta IV Heavy flown?
Delta IV Heavy has flown 16 times. as of 2026-07-05
When did Delta IV Heavy first fly?
Delta IV Heavy first flew on 2004-12-21. as of 2026-07-05
Is Delta IV Heavy reusable?
Delta IV Heavy is not reusable. as of 2026-07-05