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Launch Vehicle

Delta

United States

The original member of America's longest-running launch vehicle family, developed from the Thor ballistic missile for NASA to launch communications and scientific satellites beginning in 1960. Its name and lineage continued through dozens of upgraded variants across more than six decades.

Facts
Vehicle Class
Medium-lift expendable launch vehicle 1
Manufacturer
Douglas Aircraft Company 1
First Flight Date
1960-05-13 2
Status
Retired in its original configuration; superseded by successive Delta variants (Thor-Delta, Delta 2000, Delta II and beyond). 1
Status
Status (category)
Retired 1
Connections

Has Vehicle Class

Expendable Launch System, Concepts
Source Wikipedia: Delta (rocket family)

Operated By

NASA, Space Agencies and Companies
Source NASA History Office
In the Other Atlases

Manufactured By

Douglas Aircraft Company

Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.

McDonnell Douglas

Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.

The Boeing Company

Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.

Sources
1. Encyclopedia Astronautica
http://astronautix.com/d/delta.html
Quote, http://astronautix.com/d/delta.html
The Delta launch vehicle was America's longest-lived, most reliable, and lowest-cost space launch vehicle.
2. NASA History Office
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • https://www.nasa.gov/missions/mars-pathfinder/national-space-club-honors-nasa-ula-delta-ii-program-team/
    Delta I was designed on the Thor rocket's heritage in the late 1950's and first launched in 1960.
  • Operated By: NASA
View the Source
Wikipedia: Delta (rocket family)
  • In Group: Delta Rocket Family, Lead sentence
    The Delta rocket family was a versatile range of American rocket-powered expendable launch systems that provided space launch capability in the United States from 1960 to 2024.
  • Has Vehicle Class: Expendable Launch System, Lead sentence
    The Delta rocket family was a versatile range of American rocket-powered expendable launch systems that provided space launch capability in the United States from 1960 to 2024.
View the Source

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