United Space Alliance will launch NROL-68 for the Space Force on April 19th, about a Delta IV Heavy. It will go from Space Launch Complex 37B at CCSFS.
It is the second to last Delta IV Heavy flight and the second to last flight of the Thor-Delta Missile/Rocket Family, which has existed since 1957. The last flight will be in 2024 and will be an NROL mission as well.
The picture is of a PGM-17A Thor Missile, the original member of the missile/rocket family. The first launch occurred in 1957.
The first launch with a Delta upper stage occurred in 1962 and eventually Delta became the default name for the orbital version of the rocket family, with Thor continuing to be used for the missile version.
But the curtain is coming down. ULA is switching to the new Vulcan rocket.
Delta has these two launches left.
Atlas has 29 launches left, with the last launch scheduled by 2029.
Was the Peacekeeper ever used for Space launches? I remember reading they were taken out of active service in 2005. But I’ve always wondered if any of their first and second stages ever ended up for space use.
