There are plenty of news about Space X’s Falcon Heavy, the new heavy lifter for space exploration, with a reason: the endeavour is exceptional, and promises to change the future of the space flights. But Falcon Heavy is not the only one.
Enter Delta IV Heavy, which was actually around before. It was originally designed by McDonnell-Douglas, manufactured today by United Launch Alliance, and it is one of the world’s most powerful operational launch vehicles in terms of launch mass. Among it launched about the other things also the Orion spacecraft on a test flight in December 2014.
The comparison with Falcon Heavy is correct: they’re in the same category, rocket science speaking, with one but important difference: according to some estimates, Delta IV is four times more expensive. 
It will be thanks to these giants that all future space missions will probably be devoted. Delta IV Heavy next mission will take place in July this year, launching ParkProbe into space. “This mission will approach the sun at close proximity (4 million miles or 6.4 million kilometres) to learn more about space weather, after flying by Venus seven times and reaching an orbit that will bring it far closer to the sun than Mercury.”
As a matter of fact, I have written about Delta IV in the past, when it successfully launched Orion in 2014. Read it here on Serious Wonders about the mission and all its technical challenges, but also its promises. And watch the video.
What a fabulous video, Steph – thank you so much for posting this:)).
Thanks! I look forward to July’s mission 🙂
No matter how many launches we witness, the emotion that liftoff gives us is always the same – maybe because all our dreams are taking flight with the ship…
Thanks for sharing!
You’re so right 🙂