The decade of the 2020s will see only the Delta IV Heavy remain in operation following the retirement of the Delta II in 2018 and single-stick (non-Heavy) variants of the Delta IV in 2019. This will mark the final decade for the Thor-Delta rocket family as ULA's upcoming Vulcan Centaur rocket is set to replace the Delta IV Heavy in the mid-2020s.
List of Thor and Delta launches |
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1957–1959 · 1960–1969 · 1970–1979 · 1980–1989 · 1990–1999 · 2000–2009 · 2010–2019 · 2020–2029 |
Launch statistics
Launch history
2020 | ||||||||
Flight No. | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket, Configuration |
Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
385 | 11 December 2020 01:09 |
Delta IV Heavy | CCSFS, SLC-37B | USA-311 (NROL-44) | Classified | GSO | US NRO | Success[1] |
Reconnaissance satellite, likely an Orion satellite.[2] Launch attempts on 29 August and 30 September were aborted due to problems with the Ground Service Equipment (GSE).[3][4] The rocket finally lifted off on 11 December. | ||||||||
2021 | ||||||||
Flight No. | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket, Configuration |
Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
386 | 26 April 2021 20:47 |
Delta IV Heavy | VAFB, SLC-6 | USA-314 (NROL-82) | Classified | LEO | US NRO | Success[5] |
Reconnaissance satellite, likely a KH-11 Kennen satellite.[2] | ||||||||
2022 | ||||||||
Flight No. | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket, Configuration |
Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
387 | 24 September 2022 22:25:30 |
Delta IV Heavy | VAFB, SLC-6 | NROL-91 | Classified | LEO | US NRO | Success[6] |
Reconnaissance satellite, likely a KH-11 Kennen satellite.[2] Final Delta flight from Vandenberg. | ||||||||
2023 | ||||||||
Flight No. | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket, Configuration |
Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
388 | 22 June 2023 09:18 |
Delta IV Heavy | CCSFS, SLC-37B | NROL-68 | Classified | GEO | US NRO | Success[7] |
Reconnaissance satellite, likely an Orion satellite.[2] | ||||||||
Future launches | ||||||||
Flight No. | Date / time (UTC) | Rocket, Configuration |
Launch site | Payload | Payload mass | Orbit | Customer | Launch outcome |
389 | March 2024 [8] | Delta IV Heavy | CCSFS, SLC-37B | NROL-70 | Classified | GEO | US NRO | Awaiting Launch |
Reconnaissance satellite, likely an Orion satellite.[2] Final flight of the Delta rocket family. |
See also
References
- ↑ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-44 Mission to Support National Security". ULA Launch. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "NROL launches".
- ↑ Bruno, Tory [@torybruno] (29 August 2020). "The bird is in good shape. This was an automatic abort during the ignition sequence. Cause appears to have been in the ground system. System functioned as intended to protect the vehicle and payload" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via Twitter.
- ↑ Bruno, Tory [@torybruno] (1 October 2020). "We experienced an automated abort because a sensor reported a fault. Automated Safety System operated as intended. Bird and payload are safe and unharmed. Engine ROFI ignitors were not fired. Turbo pumps were not spun up. Mission safety first..." (Tweet). Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2021 – via Twitter.
- ↑ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-82 Mission to Support National Security". ULA Launch. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ↑ Graham, William (24 September 2022). "Last West Coast Delta IV Heavy launches with NROL-91". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
- ↑ Graham, William (22 June 2023). "ULA's penultimate Delta IV Heavy launches NROL-68 mission". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ↑ Graham, William (22 June 2023). "ULA's penultimate Delta IV Heavy launches NROL-68 mission". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
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