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The Mission




Rocket: Delta 4-Heavy
Payload: DemoSat
Date: December 21, 2004
Window: 2:36-5:31 p.m. EST (1936-2231 GMT)
Site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Satellite feed: AMC 9, Transponder 18, C-band

Mission preview story

Launch events timeline

Launch hazard area

D4-H story/photo archive


The Launcher




Boeing's Delta 4-Heavy vehicle is the largest, most powerful configuration in the next-generation rocket's family.

Delta 4-Heavy fact sheet

The pre-launch process

Our Delta archive


The Payload




The DemoSat satellite simulator and two university-built nanosats will be launched on the Delta 4-Heavy rocket's test flight.

Learn more



BY JUSTIN RAY

Follow the countdown and launch of the inaugural Boeing Delta 4-Heavy rocket on a demonstration test flight. Reload this page for the very latest on the mission. Use our text only page for faster downloads.

Spaceflight Now Plus
Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: THE DELTA 4-HEAVY BLASTS OFF! QT
VIDEO: FROM LIFTOFF TO BOOSTER SEPARATION AS SEEN LIVE QT
VIDEO: ONBOARD CAMERA RECORDS LAUNCH QT
VIDEO: ONBOARD CAMERA SEES BOOSTER SEPARATION QT
VIDEO: ONBOARD CAMERA CAPTURES FAIRING JETTISON QT

AUDIO: LISTEN TO THE 68-MINUTE PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE QT
VIDEO: ANIMATION PROVIDES PREVIEW OF A DELTA 4-HEAVY LAUNCH QT
VIDEO: RE-LIVE THE INAUGURAL DELTA 4 LAUNCH FROM 2002 QT
VIDEO: ON-PAD FLIGHT READINESS ENGINE FIRING TEST QT
VIDEO: TAKE TOUR OF LAUNCH PAD 37B QT
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Read our earlier status center coverage.