Carlson: Delta IV Heavy-Lift Capability Expensive; NRO Considering Alternatives

By Titus Ledbetter III / September 15, 2011 at 4:32 PM
National Reconnaissance Office officials believe the Delta IV heavy-lift capability for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program is expensive, the agency's director says, and are open to considering other options to satisfy the launch requirement the Delta IV is slated to fill. NRO officials believe they must have a heavy-lift vehicle to meet their launch requirements after unsuccessfully trying about 10 years ago to shrink the satellites to fit on a smaller lift vehicle, said Bruce Carlson, the director of...

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