A reusable launch vehicle has parts that can be recovered and reflown,while carrying payloads from the surface to outer space. Rocket stages are the most common launch vehicle parts aimed for reuse. Smaller parts such as rocket engines and boosters can also be reused,though reusable spacecraft may be launched on top of an expendable launch vehicle. Reusable launch vehicles do not need to make these parts for each launch,therefore reducing its launch cost significantly. However,these benefits are diminished by the cost of recovery and refurbishment.
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.
Falcon 9 is a partially reusable,human-rated,two-stage-to-orbit,medium-lift launch vehicle designed and manufactured in the United States by SpaceX. The first Falcon 9 launch was on 4 June 2010,and the first commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) launched on 8 October 2012. In 2020,it became the first commercial rocket to launch humans to orbit. The Falcon 9 has an exceptional safety record,with 407 successful launches,two in-flight failures,one partial failure and one pre-flight destruction. It is the most-launched American orbital rocket in history.
A heavy-lift launch vehicle (HLV) is an orbital launch vehicle capable of generating a large amount of lift to reach its intended orbit. Heavy-lift launch vehicles generally are capable of lifting payloads between 20,000 to 50,000 kg or between 20,000 to 100,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit (LEO). As of 2024,operational heavy-lift launch vehicles include the Long March 5 and the Proton-M.
Falcon Heavy is a super heavy-lift launch vehicle with partial reusability that can carry cargo into Earth orbit and beyond. It is designed,manufactured and launched by American aerospace company SpaceX.
A space tug is a type of spacecraft used to transfer spaceborne cargo from one orbit to another orbit with different energy characteristics. The term can include expendable upper stages or spacecraft that are not necessarily a part of their launch vehicle. However,it can also refer to a spacecraft that transports payload already in space to another location in outer space,such as in the Space Transportation System concept. An example would be moving a spacecraft from a low Earth orbit (LEO) to a higher-energy orbit like a geostationary transfer orbit,a lunar transfer,or an escape trajectory.
SpaceX manufactures launch vehicles to operate its launch provider services and to execute its various exploration goals. SpaceX currently manufactures and operates the Falcon 9 Block 5 family of medium-lift launch vehicles and the Falcon Heavy family of heavy-lift launch vehicles –both of which are powered by SpaceX Merlin engines and employ VTVL technologies to reuse the first stage. As of 2024,the company is also developing the fully reusable Starship launch system,which will replace Falcon 9,Falcon Heavy,and Dragon.
Secondary payload, also known as rideshare payload,is a smaller-sized payload transported to orbit on a launch vehicle that is mostly paid for—and with the date and time of launch and the orbital trajectory determined—by the entity that contracts and pays for the primary launch. As a result,the secondary payload typically obtains a substantially reduced price for transportation services to orbit,by accepting a trade off of the loss of control once the contract is signed and the payload is delivered to the launch vehicle supplier for integration to the launch vehicle. These tradeoffs typically include having little or no control over the launch date/time,the final orbital parameters,or the ability to halt the launch and remove the payload should a payload failure occur during ground processing prior to launch,as the primary payload typically purchases all of these launch property rights via contract with the launch services provider.
Ariane 6 is a European expendable launch system developed for the European Space Agency (ESA) and manufactured by a consortium of European companies,led by the prime contractor ArianeGroup. As part of the Ariane rocket family,it is operated by Arianespace,replacing the Ariane 5. The project’s primary contributors were France (55%),Germany (21%),and Italy (7.6%),with the remaining work distributed among ten other participating countries.
Falcon 9 v1.1 was the second version of SpaceX's Falcon 9 orbital launch vehicle. The rocket was developed in 2011–2013,made its maiden launch in September 2013,and its final flight in January 2016. The Falcon 9 rocket was fully designed,manufactured,and operated by SpaceX. Following the second Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) launch,the initial version Falcon 9 v1.0 was retired from use and replaced by the v1.1 version.
Firefly Aerospace is an American private aerospace firm based in Cedar Park,Texas,that develops small and medium launch vehicles for commercial launches to orbit. The current company was formed when the assets of the former company Firefly Space Systems were acquired by EOS Launcher in March 2017,which was then renamed Firefly Aerospace. Firefly's stated purpose is to increase access to space,similar to other private spaceflight companies.
3D printing began to be used in production versions of spaceflight hardware in early 2014,when SpaceX first flew a flight-critical propulsion system assembly on an operational Falcon 9 flight. A number of other 3D-printed spacecraft assemblies have been ground-tested,including high-temperature,high-pressure rocket engine combustion chambers and the entire mechanical spaceframe and integral propellant tanks for a small satellite.
Electron is a two-stage,partially reusable orbital launch vehicle developed by Rocket Lab,an American aerospace company with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. Electron services the commercial small satellite launch market. It's the third most launched small-lift launch vehicle in history. Its Rutherford engines are the first electric-pump-fed engine to power an orbital-class rocket. Electron is often flown with a kickstage or Rocket Lab's Photon spacecraft. Although the rocket was designed to be expendable,Rocket Lab has recovered the first stage twice and is working towards the capability of reusing the booster. The Flight 26 (F26) booster has featured the first helicopter catch recovery attempt. Rocket Lab has,however,abandoned the idea of catching Electron.
Space launch market competition is the manifestation of market forces in the launch service provider business. In particular it is the trend of competitive dynamics among payload transport capabilities at diverse prices having a greater influence on launch purchasing than the traditional political considerations of country of manufacture or the national entity using,regulating or licensing the launch service.
A medium-lift launch vehicle (MLV) is a rocket launch vehicle that is capable of lifting between 2,000 to 20,000 kg by NASA classification or between 5,000 to 20,000 kilograms by Russian classification of payload into low Earth orbit (LEO). An MLV is between small-lift launch vehicles and heavy-lift launch vehicles.
A super heavy-lift launch vehicle is a rocket that can lift to low Earth orbit a "super heavy payload",which is defined as more than 50 metric tons (110,000 lb) by the United States and as more than 100 metric tons (220,000 lb) by Russia. It is the most capable launch vehicle classification by mass to orbit,exceeding that of the heavy-lift launch vehicle classification.
Relativity Space Inc. is an American aerospace manufacturing company headquartered in Long Beach,California. Relativity Space is developing manufacturing technologies,launch vehicles,and rocket engines for commercial orbital launch services. The company is notable for manufacturing most of their Terran 1 and Terran R rocket parts using 3D printing. As of April 2024,Terran R is on track for initial launch in 2026.
Neutron is a partially reusable medium-lift two-stage launch vehicle under development by Rocket Lab. Announced on 1 March 2021,the vehicle is designed to be capable of delivering a payload of 13,000 kg (28,700 lb) to low Earth orbit in a partially reusable configuration,and will focus on the growing megaconstellation satellite delivery market. The vehicle is expected to be operational sometime in 2025. It uses LOX and liquid methane propellant on both stages of the vehicle.
Terran 1 was an expendable two-stage small-lift launch vehicle developed by Relativity Space. Development began in 2017 and the rocket was retired in 2023. Most structures and components of the vehicle are manufactured with 3D printing processes.
Impulse Space is a startup founded in 2021 developing in-space transportation technology and services for satellites that fly to Low Earth Orbit but then need to reach other orbits.
