description Delta IV Medium Overview
The Delta IV Medium was an orbital launch vehicle developed by Boeing as part of the United States Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. It utilized a single Common Booster Core powered by an RS-68 engine and was capable of placing medium-class payloads into orbit. Distinguished by its liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propulsion system, the rocket conducted its first successful flight in November 2002. It was operated by the United Launch Alliance for military, civilian, and commercial satellite deployments until its retirement in 2019.
insights Ranking position
Delta IV Medium ranks #74 of 155 in the Delta ranking, behind Delta Essa Kitchen Faucet, ahead of Axios Delta.
help Delta IV Medium FAQ
How was Delta IV Medium different from Delta IV Heavy?
Delta IV Medium used one Common Booster Core, while Delta IV Heavy joined three of those cores. Medium variants could add two or four solid rocket motors, depending on mission requirements.
What engine powered the Delta IV Medium?
Its first stage used one hydrogen-fueled Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-68 engine. The upper stage used the RL10 family, another cryogenic engine with a long history on American launch vehicles.
What do Delta IV designations such as M+(5,4) mean?
In M+(5,4), the 5 indicates a five-meter upper-stage fairing and the 4 indicates four strap-on solid rocket motors. An M+(4,2) instead used a four-meter-class upper stage and two solid boosters.
When did the last Delta IV Medium launch?
The final Medium-family mission flew in August 2019, carrying a GPS III satellite. United Launch Alliance then continued flying Delta IV Heavy until that larger variant's retirement.
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