Delta IV Heavy / launch vehicle
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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.
key details
faq
Who builds Delta IV Heavy?
Delta IV Heavy is built by United Launch Alliance. (source, as of 2026-07-05)
How many times has Delta IV Heavy flown?
Delta IV Heavy has flown 16 times. (source, as of 2026-07-05)
When did Delta IV Heavy first fly?
Delta IV Heavy first flew on 2004-12-21. (source, as of 2026-07-05)
Is Delta IV Heavy reusable?
Delta IV Heavy is not reusable. (source, as of 2026-07-05)
facts
providerUnited Launch Alliance
countryUSA
classheavy
payload to LEO (kg)28370
reusableno
first flight2004-12-21
flights total16
flights successful15
last flight2024-04-09
next flightunknown
statusretired
price per launch (USD)350000000
payload to GTO (kg)14210
height (m)72
diameter (m)5
mass (kg)733000
events
- 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 program (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 20182018-08-12Delta IV Heavy launches NASA's Parker Solar Probe (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 20072007-11-10Delta IV Heavy completes its first fully successful operational launch, carrying DSP-23 (source, as of 2026-07-12)
- 20042004-12-21Delta IV Heavy flies for the first time but falls short of intended orbit (source, as 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