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Main article: List of Thor and Delta launches

The final half-decade of launches in the Thor/Delta family consisted of one Delta IV Heavy each year from 2020 through 2024. This followed the retirement of Delta II in 2018 and single-stick (non-Heavy) variants of the Delta IV in 2019. With the start of 2024, Vulcan Centaur took its first flight in time to maintain continuity of ULA's service in the heavy-lift launch vehicle market before the Delta IV Heavy program came to an end three months later on April 9, 2024.

List of Thor and Delta launches
1957–1959 · 1960–1969 · 1970–1979 · 1980–1989 · 1990–1999 · 2000–2009 · 2010–2019 · 2020–2024

Launch statistics

Launch sites

  •   Cape Canaveral SLC-37B
  •   Vandenberg SLC-6

Launch outcomes

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]

2024

Flight No. Date / time (UTC) Rocket,
Configuration 		Launch site Payload Payload mass Orbit Customer Launch
outcome
389 9 April 2024
16:53[8] 		Delta IV Heavy CCSFS, SLC-37B NROL-70 Classified GEO US NRO Success
Reconnaissance satellite, likely an Orion satellite.[2] Final flight of the Delta rocket family.

See also

References

  1. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-44 Mission to Support National Security". ULA Launch. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e "NROL launches".
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-82 Mission to Support National Security". ULA Launch. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  6. ^ Graham, William (24 September 2022). "Last West Coast Delta IV Heavy launches with NROL-91". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  7. ^ Graham, William (22 June 2023). "ULA's penultimate Delta IV Heavy launches NROL-68 mission". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Delta IV Heavy - NROL-70". Next Spaceflight. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
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