List of Thor and Delta launches (2020–2024)

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

1

Cape Canaveral SLC-37B
Vandenberg SLC-6

Launch outcomes

1

Launch history

Flight No.	Date / time (UTC)	Rocket, Configuration	Launch site	Payload	Payload mass	Orbit	Customer	Launch outcome
2020 [edit]
385	11 December 2020 01:09	Delta IV Heavy	CCSFS, SLC-37B	USA-311 (NROL-44)	Classified	GSO	US NRO	Success^[1]
385	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 [edit]
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]
386	Reconnaissance satellite, likely a KH-11 Kennen satellite.^[2]
2022 [edit]
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]
387	Reconnaissance satellite, likely a KH-11 Kennen satellite.^[2] Final Delta flight from Vandenberg.
2023 [edit]
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]
388	Reconnaissance satellite, likely an Orion satellite.^[2]
2024 [edit]
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
389	Reconnaissance satellite, likely an Orion satellite.^[2] Final flight of the Delta rocket family.

References

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

[ula-nrol-44-post-launch-1] "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-44 Mission to Support National Security". ULA Launch. Retrieved 11 December 2020.

[gunterNRO-2] "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.

[ula-nrol-82-post-launch-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.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

Launch statistics

Launch sites

Launch outcomes

Launch history

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

See also

References