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Delta 4000
Launch of a Delta 4925
Function Launch vehicle
Manufacturer McDonnell Douglas
Country of originUnited States
Cost per launchUS$34.22 million in 1985 (4925 variant) [1] (US$79.99 million in 2018)
Size
Height34 m (112 ft)
Diameter2.44 m (8 ft 0 in)
Mass200,740 kg (442,560 lb)
Stages2 or 3
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass3,400 kg (7,500 lb)
Payload to GTO
Mass1,200 kg (2,600 lb)
Associated rockets
Family Delta
Comparable Delta 5000, Delta II
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sites Cape Canaveral SLC-17
Vandenberg AFB SLC-2W
Total launches2
Success(es)2
First flight28 August 1989
Last flight12 June 1990
Boosters – Castor 4A
No. boosters9
Height9.12 m (29.9 ft)
Diameter1.02 m (3 ft 4 in)
Empty mass1,529 kg (3,371 lb)
Gross mass11,743 kg (25,889 lb)
Powered bySolid
Maximum thrust478.3 kN (107,500 lbf)
Specific impulse
    • Sea level: 237 seconds
    • Vacuum: 266 seconds
Burn time56 s
First stage – Thor/Delta ELT
Height22.4 m (73 ft)
Diameter2.44 m (8 ft 0 in)
Empty mass4,059 kg (8,949 lb)
Gross mass84,067 kg (185,336 lb)
Powered by1 MB-3
Maximum thrust760.6 kN (171,000 lbf)
Specific impulse
    • Sea level: 250 seconds
    • Vacuum: 285 seconds
Burn time222 s
Propellant LOX / RP-1
Second stage – Delta K
Height5.89 m (19.3 ft)
Diameter2.44 m (8 ft 0 in)
Empty mass950 kg (2,090 lb)
Gross mass6,954 kg (15,331 lb)
Powered by1 AJ10-118K
Maximum thrust43.6 kN (9,800 lbf)
Specific impulse319 s
Burn time431 s
PropellantN2O4 / Aerozine 50
Third stage – PAM-D (optional)
Height2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Diameter1.25 m (4 ft 1 in)
Empty mass128 kg (282 lb)
Gross mass2,137 kg (4,711 lb)
Powered by Star 48B
Maximum thrust66 kN (15,000 lbf)
Specific impulse286 s
Burn time87 s

The Delta 4000 series was an American expendable launch system which was used to conduct two orbital launches in 1989 and 1990. It was a member of the Delta family of rockets. Although several variants were put forward, only the Delta 4925 was launched. The designations used a four digit numerical code to store information on the configuration of the rocket. It was built from a combination of spare parts left over from earlier Delta rockets, which were being retired, and parts from the Delta II 6000-series, which was just entering service.

The first stage was the MB-3-III powered Extended Long Tank Thor, previously flown on the 1000-series. Nine Castor-4A solid rocket boosters were attached to increase thrust at lift-off, replacing the less powerful Castor-4 boosters used on the 3000 series. The Delta-K was used as a second stage. A Star-48B PAM-D was used as a third stage, to boost payloads into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

Both Delta 4000 launches occurred from Launch Complex 17B at Cape Canaveral. The first launched Marco Polo 1 for BSkyB, and the second launched INSAT 1D for the Indian Space Research Organisation. Both were successful. [2] [3] [4]

References

  1. ^ "Delta 4000". Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  2. ^ Wade, Mark. "Delta". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24.
  3. ^ Krebs, Gunter. "Thor Family". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  4. ^ "Delta 4000". Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2018.