Delta IV Heavy
A hydrogen-fuelled heavy-lift rocket built from three common booster cores.
Flight record
About Delta IV Heavy
Delta IV Heavy was United Launch Alliance's largest rocket, formed by joining three Common Booster Cores — each powered by a hydrogen-fuelled RS-68 engine — with a cryogenic upper stage. Its dramatic launches, with the rocket briefly engulfed in flame from hydrogen burn-off at ignition, were a familiar sight.
It specialised in the heaviest US national-security payloads and a handful of high-profile NASA missions, including the Orion spacecraft's first flight test and the Parker Solar Probe. ULA retired it in 2024 in favour of Vulcan Centaur.
Flight history
Frequently asked questions
Specifications
- Height
- 72 m
- Diameter
- 5 m
- Launch mass
- 733 kg
- Payload to
- 28,370 kg
- Payload to
- 14,210 kg
- Payload to
- 14,500 kg
- Thrust at liftoff
- 8,674 kN
- Cost per launch
- $350M
- Reusable
- No
Key dates
- First flight
- Dec 21, 2004
- Final flight
- Apr 9, 2024
Official links
Delta IV Heavy launches
Every upcoming and past Delta IV Heavy launch — live countdowns, mission details and launch history.
Upcoming Launches
No upcoming Delta IV Heavy launches are currently scheduled.
Previous Launches
NROL-70
Apr 9, 2024, 4:53 PM
ULA
Delta IV Heavy
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
NROL-68
Jun 22, 2023, 9:18 AM
ULA
Delta IV Heavy
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
NROL-91
Sep 24, 2022, 10:25 PM
ULA
Delta IV Heavy
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
NROL-82
Apr 26, 2021, 8:47 PM
ULA
Delta IV Heavy
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
NROL-44
Dec 11, 2020, 1:09 AM
ULA
Delta IV Heavy
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
NROL-71
Jan 19, 2019, 7:10 PM
ULA
Delta IV Heavy
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Parker Solar Probe
Aug 12, 2018, 7:31 AM
ULA
Delta IV Heavy
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
NROL-37
Jun 11, 2016, 5:51 PM
ULA
Delta IV Heavy
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
EFT-1
Dec 5, 2014, 12:05 PM
ULA
Delta IV Heavy
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
NROL-65 (USA-245 / KH-11)
Aug 28, 2013, 6:03 PM
ULA
Delta IV Heavy
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
NROL-15 (Mentor) (USA-237)
Jun 29, 2012, 1:15 PM
ULA
Delta IV Heavy
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
NROL-49 (KH-11) (USA-224)
Jan 20, 2011, 9:10 PM
ULA
Delta IV Heavy
Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
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