ABOUT DELTA IV HEAVY
The Delta IV Heavy was United Launch Alliance’s most powerful rocket, consisting of three Common Booster Cores strapped together. It served primarily as a national security launch vehicle for the US military and intelligence community. Notable for its spectacular hydrogen-fueled ignition fireball, it launched the Orion EFT-1 test flight and Parker Solar Probe.
NOTABLE MISSIONS
| 🚀 Orion EFT-1 (2014) |
| 🚀 Parker Solar Probe (2018) |
| 🚀 NROL classified missions |
LEGACY & LASTING IMPACT
Workhorse for US national security payloads, bridged gap to Vulcan Centaur
PROGRAM DETAILS
| Category | Launch Vehicle |
| Era | Modern |
| Agency | ULA |
| Country | United States |
| Start Date | 2004-12-21 |
| End Date | 2024-04-09 |
| Total Flights | 16 |
| Success Rate | 94% |
| Successor | Vulcan Centaur |
PROGRAM COST
| Original Cost | $350M+ per launch |
| Inflation-Adjusted | $400M (2020) |
KEY FIGURES
TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED
🚀 RELATED VEHICLES
