A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching or receiving spacecraft,by analogy to a seaport for ships or an airport for aircraft. The word spaceport,and even more so cosmodrome,has traditionally been used for sites capable of launching spacecraft into orbit around Earth or on interplanetary trajectories. However,rocket launch sites for purely sub-orbital flights are sometimes called spaceports,as in recent years new and proposed sites for suborbital human flights have been frequently referred to or named "spaceports". Space stations and proposed future bases on the Moon are sometimes called spaceports,in particular if intended as a base for further journeys.
Titan IV was a family of heavy-lift space launch vehicles developed by Martin Marietta and operated by the United States Air Force from 1989 to 2005. Launches were conducted from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,Florida and Vandenberg Air Force Base,California.
The Pacific Spaceport Complex –Alaska (PSCA),formerly known as the Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC),is a dual-use commercial and military spaceport for sub-orbital and orbital launch vehicles. The facility is owned and operated by the Alaska Aerospace Corporation,a public corporation of the State of Alaska,and is located on Kodiak Island in Alaska.
Atlas V is an expendable launch system and the fifth major version in the Atlas launch vehicle family. It was originally designed by Lockheed Martin,now being operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA),a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Atlas V is also a major NASA launch vehicle. It is America's longest-serving active rocket. In August 2021,ULA announced that Atlas V would be retired,and all 29 remaining launches had been sold. As of 10 November 2022,19 launches remain.
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).
Space Launch Complex 3 (SLC-3) is a launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base that consists of two separate launch pads. SLC-3E (East) is currently used by the Atlas V launch vehicle,while SLC-3W (West) has been demolished.
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 Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's Space Development and Test Directorate (SMC/SD) as part of the Air Force's Rocket Systems Launch Program which converts retired Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles into space and test launch systems for U.S. government agencies.
Before the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 1969,NASA began studies of Space Shuttle designs as early as October 1968. The early studies were denoted "Phase A",and in June 1970,"Phase B",which were more detailed and specific. The primary intended use of the Space Shuttle was supporting the future space station,ferrying a minimum crew of four and about 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg) of cargo,and able to be rapidly turned around for future flights.
Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California is a launch pad and support area. The site was originally developed for Titan III rockets and the Manned Orbiting Laboratory,but these were cancelled before construction of SLC-6 was complete. The complex was later rebuilt to serve as the west coast launch site for the Space Shuttle,but went unused due to budget,safety and political considerations. The pad was subsequently used for several Athena rocket launches before being modified to support the Delta IV launch vehicle family,which used the pad since 2006. The pad is now vacant after the launch of NROL-91 on September 24,2022,and no future launches are planned.
Athena was a 1990s Lockheed Martin expendable launch system which underwent several name changes in its lifetime.
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.
The Castor family of solid-fuel rocket stages and boosters built by Thiokol and used on a variety of launch vehicles. They were initially developed as the second-stage motor of the Scout rocket. The design was based on the MGM-29 Sergeant,a surface-to-surface missile developed for the United States Army at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Atlas is a family of US missiles and space launch vehicles that originated with the SM-65 Atlas. The Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program was initiated in the late 1950s under the Convair Division of General Dynamics. Atlas was a liquid propellant rocket burning RP-1 fuel with liquid oxygen in three engines configured in an unusual "stage-and-a-half" or "parallel staging" design:two outboard booster engines were jettisoned along with supporting structures during ascent,while the center sustainer engine,propellant tanks and other structural elements remained connected through propellant depletion and engine shutdown.
This comparison of orbital launch systems lists the attributes of all individual rocket configurations designed to reach orbit. A first list contains rockets that are operational or in development as of 2022;a second list includes all retired rockets. For the simple list of all conventional launcher families,see:Comparison of orbital launchers families. For the list of predominantly solid-fueled orbital launch systems,see:Comparison of solid-fueled orbital launch systems.
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 Innovation 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.
Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4) is a launch and landing site at Vandenberg Space Force Base,California,U.S. It has two pads,both of which are used by SpaceX for Falcon 9,one for launch operations,and other as Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) for SpaceX landings.
The Athena II is an American small expendable launch system which was used for three launches between 1998 and 1999,and which was scheduled to return to service in 2012 but has not been flown again as of October 2022. It is a member of the Athena family of rockets,along with the smaller Athena I.
This article compares different orbital launcher families. The article is organized into two tables:the first table contains a list of currently active and under-development launcher families,while the second table contains a list of retired launcher families.
Space Vector Corporation (SVC) is a United States-based company that provides aerospace products and services to government and commercial customers. Space Vector is headquartered in Chatsworth,California and is a privately held small business. Its primary products are flight safety and system batteries,GPS tracking systems,custom avionics and structures,attitude control systems,pneumatic components,and separation systems. Space Vector also provides launch services as a prime contractor under the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) Sounding Rocket Program (SRP-3) which includes performing vehicle integration activities,end-to-end system testing,payload integration,launch operations,and mission analysis and design.
Firefly Alpha is a two-stage orbital expendable launch vehicle developed by the American company Firefly Aerospace to compete in the commercial small satellite launch market. Alpha is intended to provide launch options for both full vehicle and rideshare customers.
