heavy-lift launch vehicle
{{short description|Launch vehicle capable of lifting over 20,000 kg into low Earth orbit}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = {{multiple image | border = infobox | Perrow = 2 | total_width = 300 | image1 = Falcon Heavy Demo Mission (39337245145).jpg | image2 = 长征五号遥二火箭转场.jpg | image3 = On_the_launch_pad.jpg }} | Ship caption = From left: Falcon Heavy, Long March 5, Proton-M }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = Heavy-lift launch vehicle | Class before = Medium-lift launch vehicle | Class after = Super heavy-lift launch vehicle | Built range = Since 1966 }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Ship capacity = {{cvt|20000|to|50000|kg}} }} |
A heavy-lift launch vehicle (HLV) is an orbital launch vehicle capable of lifting payloads between {{convert|20000|to|50000|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (by NASA classification) or between {{Convert|20,000 to 100,000|kg|lb}} (by Russian classification){{Cite book|last=Osipov|first=Yuri|url=https://bigenc.ru/technology_and_technique/text/3492657|title=Great Russian Encyclopedia|publisher=Great Russian Encyclopedia|year=2004–2017|location=Moscow|access-date=9 June 2021|archive-date=27 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527140116/https://bigenc.ru/technology_and_technique/text/3492657|url-status=live}} into low Earth orbit (LEO).[http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/500393main_TA01-LaunchPropulsion-DRAFT-Nov2010-A.pdf NASA Space Technology Roadmaps – Launch Propulsion Systems, p.11] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324110232/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/500393main_TA01-LaunchPropulsion-DRAFT-Nov2010-A.pdf |date=24 March 2016 }}: "Small: 0-2t payloads, Medium: 2-20t payloads, Heavy: 20-50t payloads, Super Heavy: >50t payloads" Heavy-lift launch vehicles often carry payloads into higher-energy orbits, such as geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) or heliocentric orbit (HCO).{{cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-heavy-lift-launch-vehicle-58.html |title=What Is a Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle? |publisher=NASA |first=Sandra |last=May |date=27 August 2014 |access-date=11 June 2017 |archive-date=11 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911082325/https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-heavy-lift-launch-vehicle-58.html |url-status=dead}} An HLV is between a medium-lift launch vehicle and a super heavy-lift launch vehicle.
History and design
File:Launch_of_AS-203_(KSC-66PC-160).jpg, an uncrewed Saturn IB]]
=Government=
The first heavy-lift launch vehicles in the 1960s included the US Saturn IB and the Soviet Proton. Saturn IB was designed to carry the Apollo spacecraft into orbit and had increased engine thrust and a redesigned second stage from its predecessor. Proton was originally designed to be a large intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).{{cite web |last1=Howell |first1=Elizabeth |title=Proton Rocket: Russian Workhorse |url=https://www.space.com/40397-proton-rocket.html |website=Space.com |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=24 April 2018}} Russia still operates variants of the Proton {{as of|lc=yes|2024}}, although it is expected to be phased out in favor of the Angara A5.
NASA introduced the Space Shuttle as the first partially reusable launch vehicle in 1981. The Space Shuttle carried up to eight crew members in addition to deploying heavy payloads to LEO, including space station modules and Department of Defense payloads. Higher-energy orbits for payloads were reached through the use of a kick stage such as the Inertial Upper Stage.
The United States Air Force (USAF) operated the Titan IV to supplement Space Shuttle launches. This was derived from the Titan family of ICBMs and launch vehicles, with upgrades including solid rocket boosters (SRBs), vehicle lengthening, and an optional third stage.{{cite web |title=Lockheed Martin Titan IV Rocket |url=https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/692874/lockheed-martin-titan-ivb-rocket/ |website=National Museum of the United States Air Force |access-date=17 December 2024}} The USAF began the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program in 1994 to ensure access to space through contracted launch providers. This led to the development of the Delta IV, with the heavy variant using three first stage cores. United Launch Alliance (ULA) introduced Vulcan Centaur in 2024 as the successor to its Delta IV and Atlas V rockets, with Vulcan featuring a single, wider core and optional SRBs.
China's Long March 5 was introduced in 2016 as the most powerful version of the Long March family. It is notable as a Chinese launch vehicle using non-hypergolic liquid propellants.{{cite web |last1=Marie |first1=Olive |title=Launch of China Heavy Rocket a success; Continues its Roadmap to Moon & Beyond |url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/246688/20191228/launch-of-china-heavy-rocket-a-success-continues-its-roadmap-to-moon-beyond.htm |website=Tech Times |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=28 December 2019}}
=Commercial=
File:Ariane 5ES with ATV 4 on its way to ELA-3.jpg carrying ATV-004]]
The European Ariane 5 first flew in 1996 and launched many commercial payloads to GTO. It benefited in this role by launching from Guiana Space Center, a spaceport near the equator in French territory. Ariane 5 often carried multiple payloads per launch and set records for mass to GTO delivered for commercial payloads.
Falcon 9 was introduced by SpaceX in 2010, designed as a medium-lift launch vehicle with a reusable first stage.{{efn|The first successful landing of a Falcon 9 first stage occurred in 2015}} Falcon 9 grew more capable through iterative design, with upgrades including improved Merlin engines and the lengthening of both stages. Since the introduction of Falcon 9 Full Thrust in 2015, the vehicle meets the capacity requirements of a heavy-lift vehicle when the first stage is expended. In 2021, Falcon 9 carried a record of 143 satellites into orbit on a single launch.{{cite web |last1=Wattles |first1=Jackie |date=24 January 2021 |title=SpaceX launches 143 satellites on one rocket in record-setting mission |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/24/tech/spacex-rideshare-transporter-mission-scn/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124154743/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/24/tech/spacex-rideshare-transporter-mission-scn/index.html |archive-date=24 January 2021 |access-date=24 January 2021 |website=CNN}} Falcon Heavy uses three first stage boosters similarly to Delta IV Heavy, but requires a strengthened center core. Falcon Heavy made its first flight in 2017 and was most capable operational launch vehicle until NASA's SLS launched in 2022.{{cite web |last1=Wattles |first1=Jackie |title=SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, world’s most powerful rocket, launches after three-year hiatus |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/01/business/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-ussf-44-scn/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=17 December 2024 |date=1 November 2022}} Falcon Heavy is categorized as a heavy-lift launch vehicle when flown in configuration to recover the center core and both side boosters. When expending the center core or all boosters, its payload to LEO exceeds 50,000 kg, qualifying Falcon Heavy as a super heavy-lift launch vehicle.
Rated launch vehicles
= Operational =
= Under development =
= Retired =
Notes
{{notelist}}
See also
- Comparison of orbital launch systems
- Comparison of orbital rocket engines
- Comparison of space station cargo vehicles
- List of orbital launch systems
- Sounding rocket, suborbital launch vehicle
- Small-lift launch vehicle, capable of lifting up to {{cvt|2000|kg}} to low Earth orbit
- Medium-lift launch vehicle, capable of lifting between {{cvt|2000 and 20,000|kg}} to low Earth orbit
- Super heavy-lift launch vehicle, capable of lifting more than {{cvt|50000|kg}} to Low Earth orbit