Latest Delta IV Stories

CAPE CANAVERAL AFS, Fla., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office successfully lifted off from Space Launch Complex 37 at CCAFS at 9:47 p.m. EST today. This was the first Delta IV Heavy mission for the NRO. Designated NROL-26, the mission is in support of national defense. This was the third Delta IV Heavy launch in Delta program history. A Delta IV Heavy demonstration flight occurred in December...

The first major flight hardware of the Ares I-X rocket has arrived in Florida to begin preparation for the inaugural test flight of the agency's next-generation launch system. The test flight is targeted for July 12, 2009.The Ares I-X upper stage simulator traveled to Port Canaveral aboard the Delta Mariner, a ship that also transports the Delta IV rocket for United Launch Alliance. The journey began Oct. 22 on the Ohio River as the barge traveled toward the Mississippi River for its voyage...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- A new heavy-duty Boeing rocket designed to haul super-sized military satellites into space failed during a test flight to put a dummy satellite into its intended orbit, officials said Wednesday. Boeing said the failure Tuesday was apparently caused by a shorter-than-planned firing of the Delta 4 Heavy rocket's three main engines. Fired simultaneously, each of the three hydrogen-powered main engines generates 17 million horsepower. A dummy satellite carried in the...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- A massive new Boeing rocket lumbered from its seaside pad Tuesday on a mission to prove the vehicle is capable of lofting super-sized military satellites into orbit. Flames and smoke engulfed the lower portion of the 232-foot-tall, triple-bodied rocket as it labored to clear the launch tower before gaining momentum and shooting skyward. The successful launch was a critical milestone for the Delta 4 Heavy, which features three of the company's common core boosters...