This comparison of orbital launch systems lists the attributes of all current and future individual rocket configurations designed to reach orbit. A first list contains rockets that are operational or have attempted an orbital flight attempt as of 2024; a second list includes all upcoming 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 .
Falcon 9 Block 5 , the most prolific active orbital launch system in the world.
Spacecraft propulsion [note 1] is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites . Orbital launch systems are rockets and other systems capable of placing payloads into or beyond Earth orbit . All launch vehicle propulsion systems employed to date have been chemical rockets falling into one of three main categories:
Solid-propellant rockets or solid-fuel rockets have a motor that uses solid propellants , typically a mix of powdered fuel and oxidizer held together by a polymer binder and molded into the shape of a hollow cylinder. The cylinder is ignited from the inside and burns radially outward, with the resulting expanding gases and aerosols escaping out via the nozzle.[note 2]
Liquid-propellant rockets have a motor that feeds liquid propellant(s) into a combustion chamber. Most liquid engines use a bipropellant , consisting of two liquid propellants (fuel and oxidizer) which are stored and handled separately before being mixed and burned inside the combustion chamber.
Hybrid-propellant rockets use a combination of solid and liquid propellant, typically involving a liquid oxidizer being pumped through a hollow cylinder of solid fuel.
All current spacecraft use conventional chemical rockets (solid-fuel or liquid bipropellant) for launch, though some[note 3] have used air-breathing engines on their first stage .[note 4]
Orbits legend:
LEO, low Earth orbit
SSO or SSPO, near-polar Sun-synchronous orbit
polar, polar orbit
MEO, medium Earth orbit
GTO, geostationary transfer orbit
GEO, geostationary orbit (direct injection)
HEO, high Earth orbit
HCO, heliocentric orbit
TLI, trans-lunar injection
TMI, trans-Mars injection
More information Vehicle, Origin ...
Vehicle
Origin
Manufacturer
Height
Maximum payload mass (kg)
Reusable / Expendable
Orbital launches including failures[lower-alpha 1]
Launch site(s)
Dates of flight
LEO
GTO
Other
First
Latest
Angara A5 / Briz-M
Russia
Khrunichev
48.7 m
24,500 [1]
5,400 [1]
3,000 to GEO[1]
Expendable
2 [1]
2014
2020
Angara-1.2
Russia
Khrunichev
42.7 m
3,700 [2]
N/A
2,400 to SSO[3] 3400 to polar[2]
Expendable
2 [2]
2022
2022
Ariane 6 A62
Europe
ArianeGroup
63 m
10,350 [4] : 45
4,500 [5] : 33
7,200 to SSO7,000 to polar3,300 to HEO 3,500 to TLI[5] : 35–37
Expendable
1[6]
2024
2024
Atlas V 551
United States
ULA
58.3 m
18,850 [7]
8,900 [7]
13,550 to SSO[8] 3,850 to GEO[7]
Expendable
14 [8]
2006
2024
Atlas V N22 [lower-alpha 2]
United States
ULA
52.4 m
13,000 [10]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
3 [10]
2019[11]
2024
Ceres-1 (3)[lower-alpha 3]
China
Galactic Energy
20 m
400 [13]
N/A
300 to SSO[13]
Expendable
10 [12]
2022
2024
Ceres-1S [lower-alpha 4]
China
Galactic Energy
20 m
400 [13]
N/A
300 to SSO[13]
Expendable
3 [12]
OMSP
2023
2024
Chollima-1
North Korea
NADA
> 38 m
> 300 [14]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
3 [15]
2023
2023
Electron
United States New Zealand
Rocket Lab
18 m
300 [16]
N/A
200 to SSO[17]
Partially reusable
51 [18]
2017
2024
Epsilon (2)
Japan
IHI [19]
24.4 m
1,500 [20]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
1 [20]
2016
2016
Epsilon (2) / CLPS
Japan
IHI [19]
24.4 m
N/A
N/A
590 to SSO[20]
Expendable
4 [20]
2018
2022
Falcon 9 Block 5
United States
SpaceX
70 m
13,000
1,800
1,000 to BLT
Partially reusable (launch site)
321 [21]
2018
2024
17,500 [22]
5,500 [21]
4,500 to MEO
Partially reusable (drone ship)
22,000 [21]
8,300 [21]
4,020 to TMI[21]
Expendable
Falcon Heavy [23]
United States
SpaceX
70 m
30,000 [24]
8,000 [25]
N/A
Partially reusable
10 [26]
2018
2024
63,800 [26]
26,700 [26]
16,800 to TMI[26]
Expendable
Firefly Alpha
United States
Firefly Aerospace
29 m
1,030 [27]
N/A
630 to SSO[27]
Expendable
5 [28]
2021
2024
Gravity-1
China
Orienspace
31.4 m
6,500 [29]
N/A
4,200 to SSO[29]
Expendable
1 [29]
OMSP
2024
2024
GSLV Mk II
India
ISRO
49.1 m
6,000 [30]
2,250 [30]
N/A
Expendable
10 [31]
2010
2024
H-IIA 202
Japan
Mitsubishi
53 m
10,000 [32]
4,000 [32]
5,100 to SSO[lower-alpha 5]
Expendable
33 [34]
2001
2024
H3-22S
Japan
Mitsubishi
57 m
N/A[35]
3,500
N/A
Expendable
3 [36]
2023
2024
Hyperbola-1 (2)[lower-alpha 6]
China
i-Space
22.5 m
500 [38]
N/A
300 to SSO[39]
Expendable
6 [39]
2021
2024
Jielong 1
China
CALT
19.5 m
N/A
N/A
200 to SSO[40]
Expendable
1 [41]
2019
2019
Jielong 3
China
CALT
31.8 m
N/A
N/A
1,500 (500 km SSO)[42]
Expendable
3 [42]
OMSP
2022
2024
Kinetica 1
China
CAS Space
30 m
2,000 [43]
N/A
1,500 (500 km SSO)[43]
Expendable
3 [43]
2022
2024
Kuaizhou 1A
China
ExPace
19.8 m
400 [44]
N/A
250 to SSO
Expendable
26 [44]
2013[lower-alpha 7]
2024
Kuaizhou 11
China
ExPace
25.3 m
1,500 [45]
N/A
1,000 to SSO[45]
Expendable
3 [46]
2020
2024
Long March 2C
China
CALT
38.8 m
3,850 [47]
1,250 [47]
1,900 to SSO[47]
Expendable
70
1982
2024
Long March 2C / YZ-1S
China
CALT
38.8 m
N/A
N/A
2,000 to SSO[48]
Expendable
8 [48]
2018
2024
Long March 2D
China
SAST
41.1 m
4,000 [49]
N/A
1,300 to SSO[50]
Expendable
87 [51] [52]
1992
2024
Long March 2D / YZ-3
China
SAST
41.1 m
N/A
N/A
2,000 to SSO
Expendable
3 [53]
2018
2024
Long March 2F
China
CALT
62 m
8,400 [54]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
23 [55] [56] [57]
1999
2024
Long March 3A
China
CALT
52.5 m
6,000 [58]
2,600 [58]
5,000 to SSO1,420 to TLI[58]
Expendable
27 [58]
1994
2018
Long March 3B/E
China
CALT
56.3 m
11,500 [59]
5,500 [59]
6,900 to SSO3,500 to TLI[59]
Expendable
83 [59]
2007
2024
Long March 3B/E / YZ-1
China
CALT
56.3 m
N/A
N/A
2,200 to MEO
Expendable
14 [60]
2015
2023
Long March 3C
China
CALT
54.8 m
9,100 [61]
3,800 [61]
6,500 to SSO2,300 to TLI[59]
Expendable
18 [62] [61]
2008
2021
Long March 3C / YZ-1
China
CALT
54.8 m
N/A
N/A
N/A
Expendable
2 [63]
2015
2016
Long March 4B
China
SAST
44.1 m
4,200 [64]
1,500 [64]
2,800 to SSO[64]
Expendable
51 [64]
1999
2024
Long March 4C
China
SAST
45.8 m
4,200 [65]
1,500 [65]
2,800 to SSO[65]
Expendable
54 [65]
2006
2024
Long March 5
China
CALT
56.9 m
~ 25,000 [66]
~ 14,000 [66]
15,000 to SSO4,500 to GEO 8,200 to TLI 6,000 to TMI[67] [68]
Expendable
7 [67]
2017
2024
Long March 5 / YZ-2
China
CALT
56.9 m
N/A
N/A
4,500 to GEO[69]
Expendable
1 [69]
2016
2016
Long March 5 B
China
CALT
56.9 m
23,000 [70]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
4 [70]
2020
2022
Long March 6
China
SAST
29 m
1,500 [71]
N/A
1,080 to SSO[71]
Expendable
12 [71]
2015
2024
Long March 6A
China
SAST
50 m
8,000 [72]
N/A
4,500 to SSO[73]
Expendable
7 [73]
2022
2024
Long March 6C
China
CALT
43 m
4,500
N/A
2,400 to SSO[74]
Expendable
1 [75]
2024
2024
Long March 7
China
CALT
53.1 m
13,500 [76]
N/A
5,500 to SSO[77]
Expendable
7 [78]
2017
2024
Long March 7 / YZ-1A
China
CALT
53.1 m
N/A
N/A
9,500 to SSO
Expendable
1 [79]
2016
2016
Long March 7A
China
CALT
60.13 m
N/A
7,000 [77]
5,000 to TLI
Expendable
8 [80]
2020
2024
Long March 8 822[81]
China
CALT
50.34 m
7,600 [82]
2,500 [82]
4,500 to SSO[82] 1,500 to TLI
Expendable
2 [82]
2020
2024
Long March 8 820[81]
China
CALT
48 m
4,500
N/A
3,000 to SSO
Expendable
1 [83]
2022
2022
Long March 11
China
CALT
20.8 m
700 [84]
N/A
350 to SSO[84]
Expendable
12 [84]
2015
2023
Long March 11H
China
CALT
20.8 m
700 [84]
N/A
350 to SSO[84]
Expendable
5 [84]
OMSP
2019
2023
LVM 3
India
ISRO
43.4 m
8,000 [85]
4,000 [85]
3,000 to TLI
Expendable
6 [86]
2017[lower-alpha 8]
2023
Minotaur-C-XL-3210
United States
Northrop Grumman
27.9 m
1,275 [88]
N/A
880 to SSO[88]
Expendable
2 [88]
2004
2017
Minotaur I
United States
Northrop Grumman
19.2 m
580 [89]
N/A
~ 430 to SSO[89] 400 to Polar[90]
Expendable
12 [lower-alpha 9] [90]
2000
2021
Minotaur IV
United States
Northrop Grumman
23.9 m
1,735 [91]
N/A
1,170 to Polar[91]
Expendable
2 [91] [lower-alpha 10]
2010
2020
Minotaur IV / HAPS
United States
Northrop Grumman
23.9 m
N/A
N/A
N/A
Expendable
1 [93]
2010
2010
Minotaur IV / Orion 38
United States
Northrop Grumman
23.9 m
N/A
N/A
N/A
Expendable
1 [94]
2017
2017
Minotaur
IV +
United States
Northrop Grumman
23.9 m
1,950 [95]
N/A
1,430 to Polar[95]
Expendable
1 [95]
2011
2011
Minotaur V
United States
Northrop Grumman
24.6 m
N/A
678 [96]
465 to HCO[96]
Expendable
1 [96]
2013
2013
Nuri (KSLV-II)
South Korea
KARI
47.2 m
3,300 [97]
N/A
1,900 to SSO[97]
Expendable
3 [98]
2021
2023
Pegasus XL
United States
Northrop Grumman
16.9 m
475 [99]
125 [99]
~ 325 to SSO[100] 365 to Polar[99]
Expendable
29 [99]
1994
2021
Pegasus XL / HAPS
United States
Northrop Grumman
16.9 m
500 [101]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
6 [101]
1997
2005
Proton-M
Russia
Khrunichev
57.2 m
23,700 [102]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
1 [103]
2021
2021
Proton-M / Briz-M
Russia
Khrunichev
58.2 m
N/A
6,300 [104]
3,300 to GEO[104]
Expendable
101 [104]
2001
2023
Proton-M / Blok DM-03
Russia
Khrunichev
57.2 m
N/A
6,000 [102]
3,200 to GEO[105]
Expendable
7 [106]
2010
2023
PSLV-CA
India
ISRO
44.4 m
2,100 [107]
N/A
1,100 to SSO[107]
Expendable
17 [108] [107]
2007
2023
PSLV-DL
India
ISRO
44.4 m
N/A
N/A
1,257 to SSO[109]
Expendable
4 [110]
2019
2024
PSLV-QL
India
ISRO
44.4 m
N/A
N/A
1,523 to SSO[109]
Expendable
2 [111]
2019
2019
PSLV-XL
India
ISRO
44.4 m
3,800 [112]
1,300 [112]
1,750 to SSO[112] 550 to TMI [113]
Expendable
25 [112]
2008
2023
Qaem 100
Iran
IRGC
15.5 m
80 [114]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
3 [114] [lower-alpha 11]
2023
2024
Qased
Iran
IRGC
18.8 m
40 [115]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
3 [115]
2020
2023
Shavit-2
Israel
IAI
22.1 m
380 in Retrograde [116]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
6 [117]
2007
2023
Simorgh
Iran
Iranian Space Agency
26 m
350 [118]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
6 [118] [lower-alpha 12]
2017
2024
Soyuz-2.1a
Russia
TsSKB-Progress
51.4 m
7,020 from Baikonur 6,830 from Plesetsk 7,150 from Vostochny [119]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
48 [120] [lower-alpha 13]
2013
2024
Soyuz-2.1a / Fregat
Russia
TsSKB-Progress
46.9 m
N/A
N/A
4,450 to SSO[121]
Expendable
21 [121]
2006
2023
Soyuz-2.1a / Volga
Russia
TsSKB-Progress
46.9 m
N/A
N/A
N/A
Expendable
1 [122]
2016
2016
Soyuz-2.1b
Russia
TsSKB-Progress
44.1 m
8,200 from Baikonur 7,850 from Plesetsk 8,320 from Vostochny [119]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
17 [123]
2008
2024
Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat
Russia
TsSKB-Progress
46.7 m
5,500 [124]
3,060 [124]
4,900 to SSO1,200 to HCO[124]
Expendable
54 [124]
2006
2024
Soyuz-2.1v
Russia
TsSKB-Progress
44.1 m
2,800 [125]
N/A
2,630 to polar[125]
Expendable
5 [125]
2018
2024
Soyuz-2.1v / Volga
Russia
TsSKB-Progress
44.1 m
N/A
N/A
1,400 to SSO[126]
Expendable
7 [126]
2013
2022
SLS Block 1
United States
NASA Boeing Northrop Grumman
98 m
95,000 [127]
N/A
27,000 + to TLI[127]
Expendable
1 [128]
2022
2022
SSLV
India
ISRO
34 m
500 [129]
N/A
300 to SSO[130]
Expendable
3 [130]
2022
2024
Tianlong-2
China
Space Pioneer
32.8 m
2,000 [131]
N/A
1,500 to SSO[131]
Expendable
1 [131]
2023
2023
Vega-C
Europe Italy
ArianeGroup Avio
36.2 m
3,300 [132]
N/A
2,470 to SSO[133] 2,300 to polar[132]
Expendable
2 [134]
2022
2022
Zhuque-2 B1
China
LandSpace
49.5 m
4,000
N/A
1,500 to SSO[135]
Expendable
3 [136]
2022
2023
Close
Suborbital flight tests and on-pad explosions are excluded, but launches failing en route to orbit are included.
Despite not being officially acknowledged by the manufacturer, significant changes between different iterations of the rocket lead to the identification of different variants.[12]
Sea-launched version of the third unofficial iteration of the Ceres-1 launch vehicle.
5,100 kg to a 500-km Sun-synchronous orbit; 3,300 kg to 800 km[33] : 64–65
Despite not being officially acknowledged by the manufacturer, significant changes between different iterations of the rocket lead to the identification of different variants.[37]
A suborbital test flight was conducted in March 2012.[44]
A suborbital test flight was conducted in 2014 (designated LVM-3/CARE ) without the cryogenic upper stage (CUS).[87]
A suborbital mission was conducted in 2024.
Additionally, two suborbital missions were conducted in 2010 and 2011.[92]
A suborbital test flight succeeded in 2022.
A suborbital test flight succeeded in 2016.[118]
Suborbital test flight in 2004, without Fregat upper stage.[120]
More information Vehicle, Origin ...
Vehicle
Origin
Manufacturer
Height
Maximum payload mass (kg)
Reusable / Expendable
Orbital launches including failures[lower-alpha 1]
Launch site(s)
Dates of flight
LEO
GTO
Other
First
Latest
Starship Block 1 [137]
United States
SpaceX
121 m
40,000 - 50,000 [138]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
4 [1]
2023
2024
Angara A5 / Orion
Russia
Khrunichev
54.9 m
N/A
6,500 [1]
3,700 to GEO[1]
Expendable
1 [1]
2024
2024
Angara A5 / Persei
Russia
Khrunichev
54.9 m
N/A
6,500 [1]
3,700 to GEO[1]
Expendable
1 [1]
2021
2021
GYUB TV2
South Korea
MND
19.5 m
100 [139]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
1 [139]
2023
2023
KAIROS
Japan
Space One
18 m
250 [140]
N/A
150 to SSO[140]
Expendable
1 [141]
2024
2024
New-type satellite carrier rocket[142]
North Korea Russia
NADA
Khrunichev
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Expendable
1 [143] [142]
2024
2024
Vulcan Centaur VC2
United States
ULA
61.6 m
19,000 [144]
8,400 [144]
15,200 to polar 3,900 to MEO 2,600 to GEO 6,300 to TLI[144]
Expendable
1 [145]
2024
2024
Close
Upcoming launch vehicles
More information Vehicle, Origin ...
Vehicle
Origin
Manufacturer
Height
Payload mass to ... (kg)
Reusable / Expendable
Launch Site (s)
Date of first flight
LEO
GTO
Other
Agnibaan
India
AgniKul Cosmos
18 m
150
N/A
90 to SSO
Expendable
2025
Angara A5 / KVTK
Russia
Khrunichev
N/A
N/A
7,500
N/A
Expendable
2028
Angara A5M
Russia
Khrunichev
N/A
26,800
4,100 -5,200
N/A
Expendable
2027
Angara A5P
Russia
Khrunichev
N/A
18,800
N/A
N/A
Expendable
2028
Angara A5V
Russia
Khrunichev
N/A
37,500 [146]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
2028
Antares 330
United States
Northrop Grumman
Firefly Aerospace [lower-alpha 2]
47 m
10,800 [147]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
2025[148]
Ariane 6 A64
Europe
ArianeGroup
63 m
21,650 [4] : 46
11,500 + [4] : 33
14,900 to SSO 5,000 to GEO 8,400 to HEO 8,500 to TLI [4] : 40–49
Expendable
2024[149]
Aurora
Canada
Reaction Dynamics
18 m
200
N/A
TBA
Expendable
2025
Aventura 1
Argentina
TLON Space
10 m
25
N/A
N/A
N/A
Launch platform
2025
Blue Whale 1
South Korea
Perigee Aerospace
21 m
165 [150]
N/A
185 to SSO
Partially reusable
2024[152]
195 [150]
220 to SSO
Expendable
Cosmos
Russia
SR space
18.5 m
390
N/A
310 to SSO
N/A
TBA
Cyclone-4M
Ukraine
Yuzhnoye Yuzhmash
38.7 m
5,000 [153]
1,000 [154]
3,350 to SSO[153]
Expendable
2025[155]
Dauntless
United States
Vaya Space
35 m
1,100 [156]
N/A
600 to SSO
Expendable
CCSFS ,
The Spaceport Company Launch Platform
2026[156]
Daytona I
United States
Phantom Space
18 m
180
N/A
53 to SSO
Expendable
2025[157]
Epsilon S
Japan
JAXA
27.2 m
1,400
N/A
600 to SSO
Expendable
2025[158]
Eris Block 1
Australia
Gilmour Space Technologies
25 m
305 [159]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
2024[160]
Gravity-2
China
Orienspace
60 m
8,600 - 16,000
5,800
10,900 to SSO
Partially reusable
2025[161]
Hanbit-Nano
South Korea
Innospace
17 m[162]
150
N/A
90
Expendable
2025[163]
Hyperbola-3
China
i-Space
69 m
8,500
N/A
N/A
Partially reusable
2025[164]
13,400
Expendable
H3-22L
Japan
Mitsubishi
63 m
N/A[35]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
TBA
H3-24L
Japan
Mitsubishi
63 m
N/A
N/A
6,500 to TLI
Expendable
2024[165]
H3-30S
Japan
Mitsubishi
57 m
N/A[35]
N/A
4,000 to SSO
Expendable
TBA
Jielong 4
China
CALT
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Expendable
N/A
TBA
KSLV-III
South Korea
KARI
54 m
10,000
3,500
7,000 to SSO
1,800 to TLI
Expendable
2030
Long March 8A
China
CALT
50.3 m
N/A
N/A
6,800 to SSO
Expendable
TBA
Long March 9
China
CALT
114 m
80,000 - 150,000[166]
66,000
53,000 to TLI[166] 40,000 to TMI[167]
Partially/fully reusable
2033[168]
Long March 10
China
CALT
89 [lower-alpha 3] - 93.2 m[lower-alpha 4]
70,000
N/A
27,000 to TLI
Expendable
TBA
Long March 10A
China
CALT
67 m
14,000
N/A
N/A
Partially reusable
TBA
18,000
Expendable
Long March 12
China
CALT
59 m
10,000
N/A
6,000 to SSO
Expendable
2024[169]
Maia
France
MaiaSpace
50 m
N/A
N/A
N/A
Partially reusable
2025[170]
Miura 5
Spain
PLD Space
35.7 m
840
N/A
540 to SSO
Partially reusable
2026[171]
MLV
United States
Firefly Aerospace
55.7 m
16,300
3,200
2,300 to TLI[172]
Expendable
2026[173]
Nebula-1
China
Deep Blue Aerospace
N/A
1,000
N/A
N/A
Partially reusable
2024[174]
Nebula-2
China
Deep Blue Aerospace
TBA
20,000
N/A
N/A
Partially reusable
2025[174]
Neutron
United States New Zealand
Rocket Lab
42.8 m
8,000 [lower-alpha 5] - 13,000
N/A
N/A
Partially reusable
2025[175]
15,000
Expendable
New Glenn
United States
Blue Origin
98 m
45,000 [176]
13,000
N/A
Partially reusable
2024[177]
NGLV LEO
India
ISRO
88 m
7,700 [lower-alpha 6]
N/A
N/A
Partially reusable
TBA
9,900
Partially reusable
16,900
Expendable
NGLV GEO
India
ISRO
92 m
N/A
5,200
N/A
Partially reusable
TBA
25,000
8,900
Expendable
Nova
United States
Stoke Space
28.5 m
1,500
N/A
N/A
Fully reusable
TBA
OB-1 Mk1
France
HyPrSpace
11 m
200
N/A
N/A
Expendable
2026[178]
Pallas-1
China
Galactic Energy
42 m
5,000
N/A
3,000 to SSO
Partially reusable
2024[179]
Prime
United Kingdom
Orbex
19 m
180
N/A
100 to SSO[lower-alpha 7] [180]
Expendable
2025[181]
RFA One
Germany
RFA
30 m
1,600 [182]
450 [182]
1,300 to SSO
Expendable
2025[183]
Rokot-M
Russia
Khrunichev
N/A
1,950
N/A
N/A
Expendable
2024[184]
RS1 B2
United States
ABL Space Systems
27 m
1,350 [185]
400
975 to SSO750 to MEO
Expendable
TBA[186]
ŞİMŞEK-1
Turkey
Roketsan
N/A
400
N/A
N/A
Expendable
2027
Siraya
Taiwan
TASA
25 m
200
N/A
N/A
Expendable
N/A
TBA
Sirius 1
France
Sirius Space
24.7 m
N/A
N/A
175 to SSO
Expendable
N/A
2025
Skyrora XL
United Kingdom
Skyrora
22.7 m
315
N/A
315 to SSO[187]
Expendable
2025[188]
GYUB[189]
South Korea
MND
26.8 m
500 [190]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
N/A
SLS Block 1B [lower-alpha 8]
United States
NASA / Boeing Northrop Grumman
111 m
105,000 [191]
N/A
37,000 to TLI[192]
Expendable
2028
SLS Block 2 [lower-alpha 9]
United States
NASA / Boeing Northrop Grumman
111 m
130,000 [193]
N/A
45,000 to HCO[192]
Expendable
2033
SL1
Germany
HyImpulse
30 m
500
N/A
N/A
Expendable
2025
Soyuz-5 (Irtysh)
Russia
TsSKB-Progress RSC Energia
61.87 m
18,000 [194]
N/A
2,500 to GEO
Expendable
2025[195]
Soyuz-7 (Amur)
Russia
JSC SRC Progress
55 m
10,500 [196]
2,600
4,700 to SSO
Partially reusable
2028
13,600 [196]
Expendable
Spectrum
Germany
Isar Aerospace
28 m
1,000 [197]
N/A
700 to SSO[197]
Expendable
2025[198]
Starship Block 2 [137]
United States
SpaceX
124.4 m[138]
100,000 [138]
N/A
N/A
Partially reusable
2025
Terran R
United States
Relativity Space
82 m
23,500
5,500 [199]
N/A
Partially reusable
2026[199]
33,500
Expendable
Tianlong-3
China
Space Pioneer
71 m
17,000
N/A
14,000 to SSO
Partially reusable
2024[174]
Tronador II-250
Argentina
CONAE
27 m
500
N/A
N/A
Expendable
2030
Vega-E
Europe
ESA ASI
36.2 m
3,000 [200]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
2026
Vikram 1 [201]
India
Skyroot Aerospace [202]
20 m
315 to 45º inclination 500 km LEO
N/A
200 to 500 km SSPO
Expendable
2024[203]
Vikram 2 [201]
India
Skyroot Aerospace
N/A
520 to 45º inclination 500 km LEO
N/A
410 to 500 km SSPO
Expendable
TBA
Vikram 3 [201]
India
Skyroot Aerospace
N/A
720 to 45º inclination 500 km LEO
N/A
580 to 500 km SSPO
Expendable
TBA
Volans V500
Singapore
Equatorial Space Systems
N/A
150
N/A
N/A
Expendable
N/A
2026
Vulcan Centaur VC0
United States
ULA
61.6 m
10,800
3,500
2,300 to TLI
Expendable
TBA
Vulcan Centaur VC4
United States
ULA
61.6 m
24,600
11,700
4,900 to GEO 9,200 to TLI
Expendable
2024[204]
Vulcan Centaur VC6
United States
ULA
61.6 m
27,200 [205]
14,400 [205]
6,500 to GEO 11,500 to TLI
Expendable
2025
Zephyr
France
Latitude
19 m
100
N/A
80 to SSO
Expendable
2025
Zero
Japan
Interstellar Technologies
32 m
800
N/A
250 to SSO
Expendable
2025
Zhuque-2 B2
China
LandSpace
49.5 m
6,000 [136]
N/A
4,000 to SSO[136]
Expendable
TBA
Zhuque-3
China
LandSpace
76.6 m
12,500 (RTLS)[174]
N/A
N/A
Partially reusable
2025[174]
18,300 (barge)[174]
Partially reusable
21,000 [206]
Expendable
Zuljanah
Iran
Iranian Space Agency
25.5 m
220 [207]
N/A
N/A
Expendable
TBA
Close
Suborbital flight tests and on-pad explosions are excluded, but launches failing en route to orbit are included.
provides the first stage, including engines
Height for uncrewed version
Height for crewed version
When first stage returned to launch site
When first stage returned to launch site
Reference altitude 500 km
with EUS and advanced boosters
The following chart shows the number of launch systems developed in each country, and broken down by operational status. Rocket variants are not distinguished; i.e., the Atlas V series is only counted once for all its configurations 401–431, 501–551, 552, and N22.
AUS
BRZ
CHN
EUR
ESP
FRA
IND
IRN
ISR
JPN
NKR
NZL
RUS
SKR
TWN
UKR
UK
USA
Operational
In development
Retired
There are many different methods. Each mestylethod has drawbacks and advantages, and spacecraft propulsion is an active area of research. However, most spacecraft today are propelled by forcing a gas from the back/rear of the vehicle at very high speed through a supersonic de Laval nozzle . This sort of engine is called a rocket engine .
The first medieval rockets were solid-fuel rockets powered by gunpowder; they were used by the Chinese, Indians, Mongols and Arabs, in warfare as early as the 13th century.
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"Ceres-1" . galactic-energy.cn . Retrieved 2023-11-23 .
Krebs, Gunter. "Epsilon" . Gunter's Space Page . Retrieved 18 January 2019 .
Either 2 or 3 boosters recoverable
Musk, Elon. Making Life Multiplanetary . SpaceX. Event occurs at 15:35. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 22 March 2018 – via YouTube. BFR in fully reusable configuration, without any orbital refueling, we expect to have a payload capability of 150 tonnes to low Earth orbit and that compares to about 30 for Falcon Heavy
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Krebs, Gunter. "Vega-C" . Gunter's Space Page . Retrieved 3 September 2024 .
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