Delta IV Heavy rocket launch from Florida: Best tweets, photos of Cape Canaveral liftoff
As far as swan songs go, United Launch Alliance's massive Delta IV Heavy rocket had a beautiful one.
At 12:56 p.m. EDT Thursday, March 28, 2024, Delta IV Heavy lifted off into the sky from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and was largely seen beyond the Space Coast.
Here's a roundup of best photos and tweets of Delta IV Heavy.
Photos of Delta IV Heavy rocket's last launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida
Delta IV Heavy headed down range one last time during the NROL-70 mission for @NatReconOfc.
📸 - @NASASpaceflight pic.twitter.com/fMM3FQDaqu— Max Evans (@_mgde_) April 9, 2024
Delta IV Heavy takes off for the final time
What a beautiful rocket pic.twitter.com/kCuqh32YMm— Jack Kuhr 👨🚀 (@JackKuhr) April 9, 2024
ULA launches an NRO Satellite on the final flight of the Delta IV Heavy rocket.
📷: Me for @SuperclusterHQ pic.twitter.com/O3478fjCPe— Jenny Hautmann (@JennyHPhoto) April 9, 2024
And there it went!!!! Beautiful vehicle! Farewell, Delta IV Heavy! It was certainly nice knowing you! 😍 pic.twitter.com/IbCSwNGglf
— What about it!? (@FelixSchlang) April 9, 2024
Farewell friend! Delta IV Heavy flying for the final time and putting on quite a final show.
NROL-70 marking the final mission of the most metal of rockets.
📸 for @NASASpaceflight
Learn about the mission here: https://t.co/UoWNlRCQmH pic.twitter.com/30SW1bsFcA— Sawyer R. (@thenasaman) April 9, 2024
Let’s gooooooo Delta IV Heavy!!! Farewell, friend! You will always be the most metal of all rockets! 🚀💕 pic.twitter.com/KITm7GSyrs
— Astro Liz (@AstroLizsLab) April 9, 2024
🚀 LIVE: Delta IV Heavy LAUNCH FROM FLORIDA! https://t.co/CUlhQf3j74
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 9, 2024
Everyone soaking in the warm sunshine as we await the final Delta lV Heavy launch. pic.twitter.com/Y3Ysr30a7L
— Tom (@Cygnusx112) April 9, 2024
What is Delta IV Heavy?
Delta Heavy refers to United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy rocket. The ULA rocket made history for its transportation of the NASA Parker Solar Probe in 2018 and the first orbital test flight of the Orion crew capsule in 2014.
It was following the success of this flight that NASA’s Orion crew capsule flew on NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, successfully demonstrating an uncrewed mission around the moon in 2022. ULA assisted in this flight as well, as the organization designed the upper stage of the SLS rocket.
The Orion spacecraft is set to take Artemis II astronauts around the Moon in late 2025.
How big is Delta IV Heavy rocket? What’s the size and power of ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket?
The Delta IV Heavy rocket has three Delta IV core stages together. According to the ULA website, each rocket engine produces up to 702,000 pounds of thrust. With this performance, one can see why ULA dubbed it "the most metal." These engines are not small either. Just one engine weighs around 14,876 pounds and is 204 inches (17 feet) in length.
Powered by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, the Delta IV Heavy appears to "set itself on fire" just before liftoff as buoyant hydrogen gas, which is used to cool down the rocket before launch, ignites and burns off. The fiery start looks frightening, but it's part of the process.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Delta IV Heavy, ULA rocket in Florida: Best Twitter, Instagram images