Delta 2000

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Delta 2000 series
Launch of IUE on a Delta 2914 J-8
FunctionExpendable launch system
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height35 m (114 ft)
Diameter2.44 m (8 ft)
Mass130,392 kg (287,465 lb)
Payload to GTO (Geostationary transfer orbit)
Mass724 kg
Launch history
StatusRetired
Launch sites
Vandenberg, SLC-2W
Total launches44
Success(es)43
Failure(s)1
First flight19 January 1974
Last flight6 October 1981
Booster stage
Powered by9 x
Aerozine-50
Third stage
Powered by1 x Burner II
Maximum thrust43.551 kilonewtons (9,791 lbf)
Burn time42 seconds
PropellantSolid

The Delta 2000 series was an American expendable launch system which was used to conduct forty-four orbital launches between 1974 and 1981. It was a member of the Delta family of rockets, sometimes called Thorad Delta. Several variants existed, which were differentiated by a four digit numerical code. The Delta 1000, 2000 and 3000 series used surplus NASA Apollo program rockets engines for its first and second stages.

The first stage was an

Star-37E
upper stage as an apogee kick motor.

Delta 2000 launches occurred from

Cape Canaveral. Forty-three out of forty-four launches were successful. The single failure being the maiden flight, 19 January 1974, which placed Skynet 2A into a useless orbit. A short circuit in an electronics package circuit board (on second stage) left the upper stages and satellite in an unstable low orbit (96 x 3,406 km x 37.6°) that rapidly decayed. An investigation revealed that a substandard coating had been used on the circuit board.[1]

The cost of each launch was estimated on average at $28.52 million, depending on the combination of carrier rocket.

References

  1. ^ Kyle, Ed (9 April 2010). "Delta 2000 series - Extended Long Tank Delta". Space Launch Report. Retrieved 7 June 2012.