Delta IV Heavy
The Delta IV Heavy (Delta 9250H) is an expendable rocket, the largest type of the Delta IV family. It was first launched in 2004.[1]
It is similar to the Medium+ (5,2), except that it uses two additional CBCs instead of using GEMs. These are strap-on boosters which are separated earlier in the flight than the center CBC. The Delta IV Heavy also features a stretched 5-meter composite payload fairing.[2] An aluminum trisector (3 part) fairing derived from the Titan IV fairing is also available.[3] This was first used on the DSP-23 flight.
Capacity (separated spacecraft mass) of the Delta IV Heavy:
- Low Earth orbit (LEO) 22,950 kg [4]
- geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) 13,130 kg (28,950 lb).[4]
- geosynchronous orbit (GEO) 6,275 kg
- escape orbit 9,306 kg
- C3 performance of 30 km2s−2: 5,228 kg
- C3 performance of 60 km2s−2: 2,521 kg
The Heavy's total mass at launch is approximately 733,000 kg, much less than that of the Space Shuttle (2,040,000 kg), but is not reused.
The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle is planned for an unmanned test flight launch, known as OFT-1, aboard a Delta IV Heavy rocket in July 2013.[5] If launched, it would be its first launch into orbit.
[edit] Comparable Vehicles
- Angara 5
- Atlas V HLV
- Falcon Heavy
- Proton (Прото́н)
- Titan IV (retired)
[edit] References
- ^ "Boeing Delta IV Heavy Achieves Major Test Objectives in First Flight", Boeing, 2004, accessed March 22, 2012
- ^ "Delta Launch 310 – Delta IV Heavy Demo Media Kit - Delta Growth Options". Boeing. http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/delta/kits/d310_d4heavy_demo.pdf.
- ^ US Air Force - EELV Fact Sheets
- ^ a b "Delta IV Payload Planners Guide". United Launch Alliance. September 2007. pp. 2–5. http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/docs/product_cards/guides/DeltaIVPayloadPlannersGuide2007.pdf.
- ^ http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/08/oft-1-nasa-orions-2013-debut-via-delta-iv-heavy/
