Delta IV Medium Credit - © Mark Wade

Basic Delta-4 vehicle with no strap-ons, the core vehicle, and RL10B-1 upper stage with a 4 m diameter payload fairing. World's first all-cryogenic launch vehicle.

Manufacturer: Douglas. Launches: 6. Success Rate: 100.00%. First Launch Date: 2002-11-20. Last Launch Date: 2006-11-04. LEO Payload: 8,600 kg (18,900 lb). to: 185 km Orbit. at: 28.50 degrees. Payload: 3,900 kg (8,500 lb). to a: Geosynchronous transfer, 27deg inclination trajectory. Associated Spacecraft: DSCS III. Liftoff Thrust: 2,890.000 kN (649,690 lbf). Total Mass: 249,500 kg (550,000 lb). Core Diameter: 5.00 m (16.40 ft). Total Length: 63.00 m (206.00 ft). Launch Price $: 133.000 million. in: 2004 price dollars. Cost comments: The originally estimated launch price in 1999 was $90 million.

• Stage Number: 1. 1 x Stage: Delta RS-68. Gross Mass: 226,400 kg (499,100 lb). Empty Mass: 26,760 kg (58,990 lb). Thrust (vac): 3,312.755 kN (744,737 lbf). Isp: 420 sec. Burn time: 249 sec. Isp(sl): 365 sec. Diameter: 5.10 m (16.70 ft). Span: 5.10 m (16.70 ft). Length: 40.80 m (133.80 ft). Propellants: Lox/LH2. No Engines: 1. Engine: RS-68. Status: In production. Low cost expendable stage using lower performance engine. Used in Delta 4, Boeing EELV. Engine can be throttled to 60%.

• Stage Number: 2. 1 x Stage: Delta 4 - 2. Gross Mass: 24,170 kg (53,280 lb). Empty Mass: 2,850 kg (6,280 lb). Thrust (vac): 110.050 kN (24,740 lbf). Isp: 462 sec. Burn time: 850 sec. Diameter: 2.44 m (8.00 ft). Span: 4.00 m (13.10 ft). Length: 12.00 m (39.00 ft). Propellants: Lox/LH2. No Engines: 1. Engine: RL-10B-2. Status: In production. Delta 3 second stage with hydrogen tank stretch.

2002 November 20 - 22:39 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC37. Launch Pad: SLC37B. Launch Vehicle: Delta IV Medium. Model: Delta IV Medium+ (4.2). LV Configuration: Delta IV Medium+ (4.2).

• Eutelsat W5 Nation: Europe. Program: Eutelsat. Payload: W1A. Mass: 3,170 kg (6,980 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Spacebus 3000. Agency: Eutelsat. Manufacturer: Alcatel Space. Perigee: 35,788 km (22,237 mi). Apogee: 35,801 km (22,245 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.50 min. COSPAR: 2002-051A. USAF Sat Cat: 27554. Maiden flight of the Delta 4 EELV booster, delayed due to development problems from January and November 2001, April 30, July 15, August 31, October 9, November 3, 16 and 19. EUTELSAT W5 was a European (EUTELSAT Consortium) geostationary communication spacecraft. EUTELSAT W5 was to provide voice, video, and Internet services to all countries in western Europe, central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent through its 24 Ku-band transponders after being parked over 70.5° E longitude. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 70.55E drifting at 0.004W degrees per day.References: 4, 552, 554.

• USA 167 Nation: USA. Program: DSCS. Payload: DSCS III A-3. Mass: 1,235 kg (2,722 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: DSCS III. Agency: USAF. COSPAR: 2003-008A. USAF Sat Cat: 27684. First flight of a fully cryogenic orbital launch vehicle. Delayed from December 2001, February 2, 6, 8, 11, 12 and March 8 2003. Satellite mas 2,733 kg with kick stage.

• USA 170 Nation: USA. Payload: DSCS-3-B6. Mass: 1,235 kg (2,722 lb). Class: Communications. Type: Military. Spacecraft: DSCS III. Agency: US Air Force. COSPAR: 2003-040A. USAF Sat Cat: 27875. Delayed from July 1, 11 and 23, then August 3 and 28.

• GOES-13 Nation: USA. Mass: 3,199 kg (7,052 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Spacecraft: HS 601. Agency: NOAA. Manufacturer: Boeing. Perigee: 35,779 km (22,231 mi). Apogee: 35,791 km (22,239 mi). Inclination: 0.50 deg. Period: 1,436.00 min. COSPAR: 2006-018A. USAF Sat Cat: 29155. GOES-13 carried weather imager and sounder instruments, a space environment monitor, and a soft X-ray solar imaging telescope. Mass was 1543 kg empty. It joined GOES 10 (operating as GOES-WEST), GOES 12 (operating as GOES-EAST) and GOES 11 (on standby, set to replace GOES-10 on June 27). As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 105.26W drifting at 0.008W degrees per day.

• USA 184 Nation: USA. Payload: NRO L-22. Mass: 4,500 kg (9,900 lb). Class: SIGINT. Spacecraft: Jumpseat-2. Agency: NRO. COSPAR: 2006-027A. Secret payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. The intended orbit was thought to be a "Molniya" elliptical 12-hour orbit with an inclination of 63 degrees. American data relay and signals intelligence satellites have used this orbit in the past, notably the Jumpseat series of 1971-1983. A secondary payload was later confirmed to be the first SBIRS-HEO (Space-based Infrared System) sensor. SBIRS was the successor to the DSP (Defence Support Program), which provided early warning of missile launches.

• DMSP-5D3-F17 Nation: USA. Mass: 1,154 kg (2,544 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D-3. Agency: U.S. Air Force. Perigee: 841 km (522 mi). Apogee: 855 km (531 mi). Inclination: 98.80 deg. Period: 101.90 min. COSPAR: 2006-050A. USAF Sat Cat: 29522. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellite with the Operational Linescan System camera, a microwave imager-sounder, ultraviolet spectrometers, particle detectors, a magnetometer, and a laser threat warning sensor. Reportedly went for a time into safe mode due to software problems after launch. The booster upper stage was conducted a maneuver to deorbit itself after placing the satellite in orbit. After the burn an explosion evidently occurred aboard the stage - dozens of objects were tracked in various orbits with perigees down to 670 km and apogees up to 851 km.

• Isakowitz, Steven J, Hopkins, Joshua B, and Hopkins, Joseph P, International Reference to Space Launch Systems, AIAA, Washington DC, 2004. ISBN: 156347591X. The best reference on launch vehicles ever produced. More at amazon.com...