Posted: Wed, Dec 8, 2004, 8:40 AM ET (1340 GMT)
A Delta 4 Heavy, the heavy-lift version of Boeing's EELV, is on schedule for its inaugural launch Friday afternoon. The Delta 4 Heavy is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral at 2:31 pm EST (1931 GMT). The launch vehicle is carrying a large demonstration satellite for the Air Force, which is paying for the flight, as well as two student-built nanosatellites. The Delta 4 Heavy is based on the standard Delta 4 which has flown three times since 2002, but uses two strap-on Common Booster Core (CBC) strap-on boosters in addition to the core CBC. The Delta 4 Heavy is able to place nearly 22,000 kg into LEO and nearly 13,000 kg into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Lockheed Martin, which builds the Atlas 5 EELV, is also developing a heavy variant that will compete with the Delta 4 Heavy for government contracts.
