The last Delta IV rocket set to launch March 29th at 1:37 pm EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base. (YouTube Live) The Delta IV Heavy, on the NROL-70 mission, closes out a 63-yr program as a space launch booster.
Delta IV was a group of five expendable launch systems in the Delta rocket family introduced in the early 2000s. Originally designed by Boeing’s Defense, Space and Security division for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, the Delta IV became a United Launch Alliance (ULA) product in 2006. The Delta IV was primarily a launch vehicle for United States Air Force (USAF) military payloads, but was also used to launch a number of United States government non-military payloads and a single commercial satellite.
Delta IV vehicles were built in the ULA facility in Decatur, Alabama. Final assembly was completed at the launch site by ULA: at the horizontal integration facility for launches from SLC-37B pad at Cape Canaveral and in a similar facility for launches from SLC-6 pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base. – Wikipedia
As to future launches
As the sun sets on the Delta IV Heavy program, it’s also dawn for ULA’s next-generation rocket, the Vulcan. ULA officials said that the transition from the old generation to the new generation is expected to be seamless.
“Vulcan is going to step right in and replace it. So we’ll get this one launched here on the 28th and then mid-year, we will be launching another Vulcan. It’ll be even more capable than this vehicle,” added Fortson. – WESH
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