 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(March 2009) |
This article contains the lift launch systems constructed by some solid fuel stages except the final stage.
| | This article needs additional citations for verification .(March 2009) |
This article contains the lift launch systems constructed by some solid fuel stages except the final stage.
| Vehicle | Stage number | Origin | Manufacturer | Height (meter) | Diameter (meter) | Weight (ton) | Mass to LEO (kg) | Mass to Other Orbit (kg) | Maiden flight | Retired | Record | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASLV | 5 |  India | ISRO | 24 | 1 | 41 | 150 | 1987 | 1994 | 2/4 | Retired | |
| Epsilon (without PBS) | 3 |  Japan | IHI AeroSpace | 24.4 | 2.6 | 90.8 | 2016 | - | 1/1 | Active | ||
| J-I | 2(+1) | Japan | NASDA / ISAS | 33.1 | 1.8 | 88.5 | 1000 | 1996 | 1996 | 1/1* | Retired | |
| Kaituozhe-1 | 4 |  China | CASIC | 13.6 | 1.4 | SSO: 50 | 2002 | ? | 0/2 | ? | ||
| Kaituozhe-2 | China | CASIC | 2017 | 1/1 | Active | |||||||
| Kuaizhou-11 | 4 | China | CASIC | ? | 2.2 | 78 | 1500 | SSO: 1000@700 km | 2017 | - | - | Development |
| L-4S | 4 | Japan | Tokyo univ. | 16.5 | 0.735 | 9.4 | 26 | 1966 | 1970 [1] | 1/5 | Retired | |
| Minotaur I | 4 |  United States | Orbital Sciences | 19.2 | 1.67 | 36.2 | 580 | SSO: 331 | 2000 | - | 11/11 | Active |
| Minotaur IV Lite | 3 | United States | Orbital Sciences | 23.88[ citation needed ] | 2.34[ citation needed ] | 86.3[ citation needed ] | - | 2010 | - | 2/2* | Active | |
| Minotaur IV | 4 | United States | Orbital Sciences | 23.88 [2] | 2.34[ citation needed ] | 86.3[ citation needed ] | 1735[ citation needed ] | 2010 | - | 1/1 | Active | |
| Minotaur IV+ | 4 | United States | Orbital Sciences | 23.88 | 2.34 | 86.3 | 1985 | 2011 | 1/1 | Active | ||
| Minotaur IV/Orion 38 | 4 | United States | Orbital Sciences | 2017 | - | 1/1 | Active | |||||
| Minotaur V | 5 | United States | Orbital Sciences | 1.67 | GTO:640 TLI:447 | 2013 [3] | - | 1/1 | Active | |||
| M-3C | 3 | Japan | Tokyo univ. | 20.2 | 1.41 | 41.8 | 195 | 1974 | 1979 | 3/4 | Retired | |
| M-3H | 3 | Japan | Tokyo univ. | 23.8 | 1.41 | 48.7 | 300 | 1977 | 1978 | 3/3 | Retired | |
| M-3S | 3 | Japan | Tokyo univ. | 23.8 | 1.41 | 48.7 | 300 | 1980 | 1984 | 4/4 | Retired | |
| M-3SII | 3(+1) | Japan | ISAS | 27.8 | 1.41 | 61 | 770 | 1985 | 1995 | 7/8 | Retired | |
| M-4S | 4 | Japan | Tokyo univ. | 23.6 | 1.41 | 43.6 | 180 | 1970 | 1972 | 3/4 | Retired | |
| M-V | 3(+1) | Japan | ISAS | 30.8 | 2.5 | 140 | 1850 | Interplanetary: 500 | 1997 | 2006 | 6/7 | Retired |
| Pegasus | 3 | United States | Orbital Sciences | 16.9 | 1.27 | 18.5 | 375 | 1990 | 10/11 | ? | ||
| Pegasus XL | 3 | United States | Orbital Sciences | 17.6 | 1.27 | 23.13 | 443 | 1994 | - | 29/32 | Active | |
| Qaem 100 | 3 |  Iran | IRGC | 80 | - | 0/0 | Development | |||||
| Scout | 4 [4] | United States | NACA | 23 | 1.01 | 21.5 | 1961 | 1994 | Retired | |||
| Scout-A | 4 | United States | NACA | 25 | 1.01 | 17.85 | 1965 | 1970 [5] | Retired | |||
| Shavit | 3 |  Israel | IAI | 15.3[ citation needed ] | 1.352[ citation needed ] | 23.2[ citation needed ] | 160[ citation needed ] | 1988 | 1990 | 2/2 | Retired | |
| Shavit1 (LK-A) | 3 | Israel | IAI | 17.2 | 1.352 | 27.3 | 240 | 1995 | 2004 | 2/4 | Retired | |
| Shavit2 (LK-1) | 3 | Israel | IAI | 19.5[ citation needed ] | 1.352[ citation needed ] | 31.2[ citation needed ] | 350[ citation needed ] | 2007 | - | 4/4 | Active | |
| SLV | 4 | India | ISRO | 22 | 1 | 17 | 40 | 1979 | 1983 | 3/4 | Retired | |
| RPS-420 | 4 |  Indonesia | LAPAN | 9.5 | 0.42 | 50 | (2014) | - | 0/0 | Development | ||
| SPARK (Super Strypi) | 3 | United States | Hawaii, Sandia, Aerojet Rocketdyne | SSO: 250 | 2015 | - | 0/1 | Active | ||||
| SS-520(3-stage) | 3 | Japan | ISAS/JAXA | 9.54 | 0.52 | 2.6 | 4 | - | 2017 | - | 1/2 | Active |
| Start-1 | 4 |  Russia | MIT | 22.7 | 1.61 | 47.2 | 532 | SSO: 167 | 1993 | - | 6/6 | Active |
| Taiwan SLV | 4 |  Republic of China | NSPO | 50 | - | - | 0/0 | Development | ||||
| Taurus | 3+1 | United States | Orbital Sciences | 27 | 2.35 | 69 | 1259 | SSO: 889 | 1994 | - | 5/6 | ? |
| Taurus XL Minotaur-C | 3+1 | United States | Orbital Sciences | 32 | 2.35 | 77 | 1458 | SSO: 1054 | 2004 | - | 2/4 | Active |
| VLS-1 | 4 |  Brazil | AEB, DCTA-IAE, Avibrás | 19.5[ citation needed ] | 1.01[ citation needed ] | 50.7[ citation needed ] | 380 [6] | 1997 | 2016 | 0/3 | Retired | |
| VLM-1 | 3 | Brazil/ Germany | AEB, DCTA-IAE, Avibrás, DLR | 19.6 | 1.45 | 28 | 30 | - | 2025 | - | 0/0 | style="background:#FFB;vertical-align:middle;text-align:center; " class="table-partial"|Development |
| Vehicle | Main stages | Origin | Manufacturer | Height (meter) | Diameter (meter) | Weight (ton) | Mass to... (kg) | Maiden flight | Retired | Record | Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid | Liquid | LEO | Other orbit | ||||||||||
| Ares I | 1 | 1 | United States | Alliant Techsystems / Boeing | 94 | 5.5 | 25000 | (2015) | 0/0 | Cancelled | |||
| Athena I | 2 | 1 | United States | Lockheed Martin | 1995 | 2001 | 3/4 | Retired | |||||
| Athena Ic | 2 | 1 | United States | Lockheed Martin Alliant Techsystems | (2012) | 0/0 | Development | ||||||
| Athena II [7] | 3 | 1 | United States | Lockheed Martin | 30.5 | 2.36 | 120.2 | 1896 | 1998 | 1999 | 2/3 | Retired | |
| Athena IIc | 3 | 1 | United States | Lockheed Martin Alliant Techsystems | (2012) | 0/0 | Development | ||||||
| Epsilon PBS | 3 | 1 | Japan | IHI AeroSpace | 24.4 | 2.6 | 90.8 | 2013 | - | 3/4 | Active | ||
| Hyperbola-1 | 3 | 1 | China | i-Space | 20 | 31 | 300 | 2019 | - | 1/1 | Active | ||
| Kuaizhou-1 | 3 | 1 | China | CASIC | 18 | 1.4 | 32 | ~300 | SSO: 430@500 km | 2013 | - | 1/1 | Active |
| Kuaizhou-1A | 3 | 1 | China | CASIC | 1.4 | 30 | ~300 | SSO: 200@700 km | 2014 | - | 2/2 | Active | |
| Long March 11 | 3 | 1 | China | 2015 | - | 7/7 | Active | ||||||
| Minotaur IV HAPS | United States | Orbital Sciences | 23.88 | 2.34 | 86.3 | 2010 | - | 1/1 | Active | ||||
| Vega | 3 | 1 |  European Union | ESA / ISA | 30 | 3 | 137 | 2000(?) | SSO: 1500 | 2012 | - | 18/20 | Active |
| Vega-C | 3 | 1 | European Union | ESA / ISA | 35 | 3.4 | 2022 | - | 1/2 | Active | |||
| Zuljanah | 2 | 1 | Iran | MODAFL | 25.5 | 1.5 | 52 | 220 | - | 0/0 | Development | ||
Spaceflight is an application of astronautics to fly objects, usually spacecraft, into or through outer space, either with or without humans on board. Most spaceflight is uncrewed and conducted mainly with spacecraft such as satellites in orbit around Earth, but also includes space probes for flights beyond Earth orbit. Such spaceflight operate either by telerobotic or autonomous control. The more complex human spaceflight has been pursued soon after the first orbital satellites and has reached the Moon and permanent human presence in space around Earth, particularly with the use of space stations. Human spaceflight programs include the Soyuz, Shenzhou, the past Apollo Moon landing and the Space Shuttle programs. Other current spaceflight are conducted to the International Space Station and to China's Tiangong Space Station.
Human spaceflight programs have been conducted, started, or planned by multiple countries and companies. Until the 21st century, human spaceflight programs were sponsored exclusively by governments, through either the military or civilian space agencies. With the launch of the privately funded SpaceShipOne in 2004, a new category of human spaceflight programs – commercial human spaceflight – arrived. By the end of 2022, three countries and one private company (SpaceX) had successfully launched humans to Earth orbit, and two private companies had launched humans on a suborbital trajectory.
Pegasus is an air-launched multistage rocket developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) and later built and launched by Northrop Grumman. Pegasus is the world's first privately developed orbital launch vehicle. Capable of carrying small payloads of up to 443 kg (977 lb) into low Earth orbit, Pegasus first flew in 1990 and remained active as of 2021. The vehicle consists of three solid propellant stages and an optional monopropellant fourth stage. Pegasus is released from its carrier aircraft at approximately 12,000 m (39,000 ft) using a first stage wing and a tail to provide lift and altitude control while in the atmosphere. The first stage does not have a thrust vector control (TVC) system.
Orbital Sciences Corporation was an American company specializing in the design, manufacture, and launch of small- and medium- class space and launch vehicle systems for commercial, military and other government customers. In 2014, Orbital merged with Alliant Techsystems to create a new company called Orbital ATK, Inc., which in turn was purchased by Northrop Grumman in 2018. The remnants of the former Orbital Sciences Corporation became a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, known as Northrop Grumman Space Systems.
A launch vehicle is typically a rocket-powered vehicle designed to carry a payload from Earth's surface or lower atmosphere to outer space. The most common form is the ballistic missile-shaped multistage rocket, but the term is more general and also encompasses vehicles like the Space Shuttle. Most launch vehicles operate from a launch pad, supported by a launch control center and systems such as vehicle assembly and fueling. Launch vehicles are engineered with advanced aerodynamics and technologies, which contribute to high operating costs.
Minotaur-C, formerly known as Taurus or Taurus XL, is a four stage solid fueled launch vehicle built in the United States by Orbital Sciences and launched from SLC-576E at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base. It is based on the air-launched Pegasus rocket from the same manufacturer, utilizing a "zeroth stage" in place of an airplane. The Minotaur-C is able to carry a maximum payload of around 1458 kg into a low Earth orbit (LEO).
The Minotaur is a family of United States solid fuel launch vehicles derived from converted Minuteman and Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). They are built by Northrop Grumman via contract with the Space Force's Space Systems Command as part of the Space Force's Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) which converts retired Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles into space and test launch systems for U.S. government agencies.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to space exploration.
The Minotaur I, or just Minotaur is an American expendable launch system derived from the Minuteman II missile. It is used to launch small satellites for the US Government, and is a member of the Minotaur family of rockets produced by Orbital Sciences Corporation.
Antares, known during early development as Taurus II, is an expendable launch system developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation and the Pivdenne Design Bureau to launch the Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA's COTS and CRS programs. Able to launch payloads heavier than 8,000 kg (18,000 lb) into low Earth orbit, Antares is the largest rocket operated by Northrop Grumman. Antares launches from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport and made its inaugural flight on April 21, 2013. Antares 100 was retired in 2014 and series 200 was retired in 2023 due to component unavailability. As of January 2024 Antares 300 is under development.
This article lists all active and upcoming orbital launch systems. For retired launch vehicles, see Comparison of retired orbital launch systems.
Cygnus is an expendable American cargo spacecraft developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, manufactured and launched by Northrop Grumman Space Systems, as part of NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program. It is usually launched by Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket from the Wallops Flight Facility, although three flights were on ULA's Atlas V and three are planned for SpaceX's Falcon 9, in both cases launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It transports supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) following the retirement of the American Space Shuttle. Since August 2000, ISS resupply missions have been regularly flown by the Russian Progress spacecraft, as well as by the European Automated Transfer Vehicle, and the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle. With the Cygnus spacecraft and the SpaceX Dragon, NASA seeks to increase its partnerships with the domestic commercial aviation and aeronautics industry.
Minotaur IV, also known as Peacekeeper SLV and OSP-2 PK is an active expendable launch system derived from the LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM. It is operated by Northrop Grumman Space Systems, and made its maiden flight on 22 April 2010, carrying the HTV-2a Hypersonic Test Vehicle. The first orbital launch occurred on 26 September 2010 with the SBSS satellite for the United States Air Force.
The Space Launch Complex 46 (SLC-46), previously Launch Complex 46 (LC-46), is a launch complex at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station operated under license by Space Florida previously used for Athena rocket launches. It has been used by Astra, which will continue the use with Rocket 4 and maybe 5 and will be used by ABL Space Systems for the near-term use by RS1.
Minotaur V is an American expendable launch system derived from the Minotaur IV, itself a derivative of the LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM. It was developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and made its maiden flight on 7 September 2013 carrying the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer spacecraft for NASA. While Minotaur V is still likely active and available to fly, no further flights are scheduled as of May 2024.
This article compares different orbital launcher families. The article is organized into two tables: the first contains a list of currently active and under-development launcher families, while the second contains a list of retired launcher families.
Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (NGIS) was a sector of Northrop Grumman from 2018 to 2019. It was formed from Orbital ATK Inc. a company which resulted from the merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and parts of Alliant Techsystems in 2015. Orbital ATK was purchased by Northrop Grumman in 2018. Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems designed, built, and delivered space, defense, and aviation-related systems to customers around the world both as a prime contractor and as a merchant supplier. It had a workforce of approximately 12,000 employees dedicated to aerospace and defense including about 4,000 engineers and scientists; 7,000 manufacturing and operations specialists; and 1,000 management and administration personnel. With Northrop Grumman's reorganization of its divisions effective January 1, 2020, NGIS was split, with most of the sector merging with other Northrop Grumman businesses into a new Space Systems sector.
A small-lift launch vehicle is a rocket orbital launch vehicle that is capable of lifting 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) or less or under 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb) of payload into low Earth orbit (LEO). The next larger category consists of medium-lift launch vehicles.
