After Titan 4B

[CJSF]

I've been looking at the launch schedule on Spaceflight Now to see what's coming down the line. I notice that this coming Sunday's (April 6, 2003) Titan 4B launch and one later this year for the DSP-22 satellite are the last Titan 4 launches. This is our largest un-manned booster. What's to replace it?

CJSF

[ToSeek]

The Delta 4, perhaps? The "heavy" version is supposed to capable of lifting 50,000 pounds into orbit, even more than the Titan IV.

[CJSF]

The Delta 4, perhaps? The "heavy" version is supposed to capable of lifting 50,000 pounds into orbit, even more than the Titan IV.

The site you provided the URL to only says 13,130 kg (28,950 pounds). This Titan IV page says it can loft 47,800 pounds. Or are GTO and Geosyncronous Orbit not the same?

CJSF

[ToSeek]

As I read the Titan IV page, it can lift 47,800 lbs. into LEO or 12,700 into geosynchronous.

The Delta IV Heavy figures are 50,000 lbs. for LEO and 28.950 to GTO. GTO is just an orbit with its apogee at geosynchronous altitude, so the GTO payload would have to include the fuel and rocket to circularize the orbit at that height.

[CJSF]

Thanks!

CJSF