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Delta IV

Delta IV was a cryogenic expendable launch-vehicle family developed by Boeing and later produced and operated by United Launch Alliance. Its five configurations completed 45 flights from 2002 through 2024: 29 single-core Medium and Medium+ missions and 16 three-core Heavy missions. The inaugural Heavy demonstration experienced reduced launch performance; every subsequent Delta IV flight completed its mission successfully.

Delta IV
NASA / Tony Gray · NASA/KSC asset; NASA’s KSC-07PD-2590 catalog identifies the exact Delta II/Dawn launch and credits the photograph to NASA / Tony Gray. NASA’s current Images and Media Usage Guidelines generally permit factual or informational/editorial use with NASA attribution and without implying NASA endorsement. NASA insignia, launch-provider or other third-party marks, identifiable-person rights, and any commercial, promotional, merchandise, or protected-rights use remain separately restricted or clearance-sensitive; verify before such use. · Source
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Identity

Aliases
Delta 4Delta IV launch vehicle
Family Name
Delta
Full Name
Delta IV
Status
retired
Type
rocket
Variant Name
IV

Details

Description
Delta IV was a cryogenic expendable launch-vehicle family developed by Boeing and later produced and operated by United Launch Alliance. Its five configurations completed 45 flights from 2002 through 2024: 29 single-core Medium and Medium+ missions and 16 three-core Heavy missions. The inaugural Heavy demonstration experienced reduced launch performance; every subsequent Delta IV flight completed its mission successfully.
First Flight Year
2,002
Last Flight Year
2,024
Manufacturer
Operator
Parent Vehicle Family
Propulsion Configurations
  • Entries
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first
      Variant Notes
      Original RS-68 model documented for the baseline Medium Common Booster Core.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      second
      Variant Notes
      RL10B-2 powered the 4 m Delta Cryogenic Second Stage.
    Name
    Delta IV Medium
    Notes
    Baseline single-Common-Booster-Core Delta IV with the 4 m cryogenic upper stage; this family-level record preserves the exact Medium subseries separately from the Medium+ and Heavy alternatives.
  • Entries
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first
      Variant Notes
      RS-68/RS-68A family identity retained because the subseries spans the Delta IV production era.
    • Count
      2
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
      Stage
      first
      Variant Notes
      Two GEM-60 strap-on solid motors.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      second
      Variant Notes
      RL10B-2 powered the 4 m Delta Cryogenic Second Stage.
    Name
    Delta IV Medium+ (4,2)
    Notes
    Single Common Booster Core, two GEM-60 strap-on motors, 4 m upper stage; kept separate from the other Medium+ and Heavy configurations.
  • Entries
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first
      Variant Notes
      RS-68/RS-68A family identity retained because the subseries spans the Delta IV production era.
    • Count
      2
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
      Stage
      first
      Variant Notes
      Two GEM-60 strap-on solid motors.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      second
      Variant Notes
      RL10B-2 powered the 5 m Delta Cryogenic Second Stage.
    Name
    Delta IV Medium+ (5,2)
    Notes
    Single Common Booster Core, two GEM-60 strap-on motors, 5 m upper stage; kept separate from the 4,2, 5,4, Medium, and Heavy alternatives.
  • Entries
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first
      Variant Notes
      RS-68/RS-68A family identity retained because the subseries spans the Delta IV production era.
    • Count
      4
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
      Stage
      first
      Variant Notes
      Four GEM-60 strap-on solid motors.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      second
      Variant Notes
      RL10B-2 powered the 5 m Delta Cryogenic Second Stage.
    Name
    Delta IV Medium+ (5,4)
    Notes
    Single Common Booster Core, four GEM-60 strap-on motors, 5 m upper stage; kept separate from the other Medium+ and Heavy configurations.
  • Entries
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      core
      Propulsion System
      Role
      main
      Stage
      first
      Variant Notes
      Central Common Booster Core; RS-68/RS-68A family retained rather than inventing a single model across the Heavy production era.
    • Count
      2
      Placement
      booster
      Propulsion System
      Role
      booster
      Stage
      first
      Variant Notes
      Two parallel Common Booster Cores; RS-68/RS-68A family retained across the Heavy era.
    • Count
      1
      Placement
      upper
      Propulsion System
      Role
      upper-stage
      Stage
      second
      Variant Notes
      RL10 family retained because historical Heavy vehicles span RL10B-2 and RL10C-2-1 upper-stage variants.
    Name
    Delta IV Heavy
    Notes
    Three Common Booster Cores and the larger cryogenic upper stage; family-level RS-68 and RL10 identities preserve the documented RS-68/RS-68A and RL10B-2/RL10C-2-1 historical variant span.
Rocket Specs
Reusability
expendable
Stages Count
2

Links

Official Url
https://www.ulalaunch.com/about/heritage-rockets/delta-iv
Wikipedia Url
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_IV

Assets & Meta

Creation Time
April 26, 2026 at 15:30:28 UTC
Updated Time
August 1, 2026 at 09:38:42 UTC
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Delta IV - AeroVia