Delta IV
The 21st Century Solution for Low-Cost,
Reliable Space Transportation

INTO THE 21ST C ENTURY

The Delta of the next century continues the long-standing McDonnell Douglas tradition of excellence. It provides the reliability and accuracy inherent to Delta, with lower costs and more efficient payload integration. Our innovative EELV system appraoch has the following features:

THE RS-68 LIQUIDPROPELLANTBOOSTER ENGINE
Our RS-68 liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen engine lowers risk and cost. It has 93 percent fewer parts compared to the Space Shuttle's Main Engine, and performance far superior to liquid oxygen/kerosene engines.

A SINGLE ENGINE COMMON BOOSTER CORE
With this standard Delta concept we ensure simplicity, reliability, and lower costs.

EQUIPMENT AND PROCESS STANDARDIZATION
Our Delta IV launch base facilities are identical, we use the same common booster core for the first stage on all vehicles, and our manufacturing checkout and launch processes are common, which reduces cost and increases reliability.

HORIZONTAL INTEGRATION AND STREAMLINED PAD OPERATIONS
All Delta IV rockets are serviced horizontally and then elevated for launch, reducing integration time by half compared to vertical processing. This concept reduces on-pad time from the current 24 days to 6 days for the small and medium vehicles and 8 days for the heavy.

PROVEN HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
We minimize risk by using hardware and software (upper stage, avionics, payload fairings, advanced launch control system) that has already been flown and proven on Delta II and III.

COST AS AN INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
Our CAIV approach melds Delta II and III heritage with technical and cost innovations. Our system design is 100 percent responsive to EELV requirements.

The Delta IV family is ready to help change the future of space transportation. Our ongoing commitment toward low-cost space transportation is evidenced by the significant investment we have made in Delta in both government and commercial areas. With this Delta heritage behind it, Delta IV reinforces the legacy of the world's most reliable and responsive launch vehicle.

THE YEAR IS 2001. YOU'RE AT CAPE CANAVERAL. A GLEAMING ROCKET IS SITTING ON THE LAUNCH PAD POINTED TOWARD THE SKY. YOU HEAR ITS ROAR AND SEE A BRILLIANT FLASH OF LIGHT AS IT LIFTS OFF THE PAD. YOU WATCH AS THE FLIGHT OF THE NATION'S EVOLVED EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE PROGRAM BEGINS. THE FUTURE IS HERE.

Expendable Launch Vehicle program. As a key part of the Department of Defense plan for the President's policy on space transportation, EELV calls for lowering space launch costs by 25 to 50 percent over the life of the program, while maintaining a reliable, operable, and capable launch system. Lowered costs and increased efficiency will help the United States Regain global eminence in space. OVER 35 YEARS OF PROVEN PERFORMANCE Our EELV approach answershe country's call for an affordable, internationally competitive space launch system. The		THE FUTURE DELTA IV CONFIGURATIONS
Delta IV family, consisting of the Delta IV Small, Medium, and Heavy, is founded on the proven Delta II and Delta III tradition of quality and is evolved from an unparalleled record of achievement: