Portal:Spaceflight/Selected article/Week 6 2009

The Delta IV is a family of Delta rockets designed by Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems division and built in United Launch Alliance's facility in Decatur, Alabama with final assembly at the launch site by United Launch Alliance. The rockets were designed for the United States Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) programme and commercial satellite business, and are intended to reduce the cost and effort needed to launch payloads into orbit. The Delta IV is available in five versions: Medium, Medium+ (4,2), Medium+ (5,2), Medium+ (5,4), and Heavy, which are tailored to suit specific payload size and weight ranges. The Delta IV is primarily designed to satisfy the needs of the US military.

The rockets are assembled in Horizontal Integration Facilities and launched from LC-37B at Cape Canaveral, and SLC-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base. (more...)