ULA Prepares for Delta IV Heavy’s Final Mission

United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy space launch vehicle will carry a classified payload from the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 03:34 PM ET

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Delta IV Heavy’s common booster core and upper stage are stacked on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida. [Courtesy: United Launch Alliance]

Key Takeaways:

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is conducting the 16th and final launch of its Delta IV Heavy rocket for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), marking the retirement of the prolific Delta family of rockets after over six decades.
The NROL-70 mission carries a classified national security payload, a task for which the Delta IV Heavy is uniquely qualified among current rockets.
ULA is transitioning its operations to the newer, more cost-effective Vulcan Centaur rocket, which debuted in January, to remain competitive in the evolving space launch market against rivals like SpaceX.
The Delta rocket family boasts a rich history dating back to 1960, having launched critical payloads for communications, weather forecasting, GPS, and numerous NASA scientific missions, including Mars rovers.

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One of the most prolific families of space launch vehicles in U.S. history is preparing for its swan song.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) on Friday will attempt the 16th and final launch of its Delta IV Heavy rocket, one of the world’s most powerful—and expensive—commercially produced launch vehicles. The launch was initially scheduled for Thursday afternoon but was scrubbed a few minutes before takeoff.