In a recent update from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) in Florida, the scheduled launch of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy, carrying a national security payload, has been postponed due to a complication with a ground systems pneumatic valve. The new time for the lift-off has been set for Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 12:25 a.m. Pacific, or 3:25 a.m. Eastern Time.

This event marks the first National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Delta IV Heavy launch in 2023, and the thirteenth of its kind overall. In addition, this will be the tenth Delta IV Heavy vehicle sent into orbit from the CCSFS. The previous launches include two NASA missions and eight NSSL missions, rounding the total to 15 successful Delta IV Heavy vehicle launches to date.

A look back at the Delta's history reveals an impressive trajectory of development and deployment. Starting from its initial launch as a Thor Delta in August 1960, the Delta evolved from a mere ballistic missile system to a versatile space launch platform. This evolution saw a dramatic increase in the Delta's payload capacity, moving from 100 lbs. for 115-mile orbits to a formidable 62,550 lbs. to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 30,450 lbs. to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).

The Delta family, over the six decades of its existence, has conducted multiple launches, including the Delta I with 102 launches, and the Delta II, which holds the record for the most launches of any Delta configuration at 152. The Delta IV has a record of 29 launches of the Medium configuration and 15 launches of the Heavy, including the forthcoming NROL-68 launch.

These vehicles have launched a diverse range of payloads, including military, government, and commercial weather, communications, and science satellites, robotic probes for exploration, eight Mars rovers, and one telescope.

With this launch and another Delta IV Heavy scheduled for 2024, the Space Force is nearing the end of the Delta's long and successful tenure. This current mission, NROL-68, will be the first of four planned for the Atlas V and Delta IV team over the final year of Atlas/Delta operations.

Lt. Col. Scott Carstetter, Atlas V/Delta IV Materiel Leader, commended the team for their unflagging dedication to the Atlas and Delta missions. "The team performed extraordinarily well last year in the execution of their missions, and I expect this year will build upon those accomplishments," he stated.

Assured Access to Space (AATS) acquires and executes launch services for various agencies, including the USSF and the National Reconnaissance Office, providing reliable on-orbit capabilities for national defense. In addition to managing launches, AATS conducts range operations for Department of Defense, intelligence, civil, and commercial launches at the Patrick Space Force Base in Florida and the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

For those interested in watching the launch, it will be livestreamed at www.ulalaunch.com and other media websites.