A heavy-lift launch vehicle (HLV) is an orbital launch vehicle capable of lifting payloads between (by NASA classification) or between (by Russian classification) into low Earth orbit (LEO).NASA Space Technology Roadmaps – Launch Propulsion Systems, p.11 : "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). An HLV is between a medium-lift launch vehicle and a super heavy-lift launch vehicle.

History and design

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). Russia still operates variants of the Proton , 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. 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.

Commercial

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. 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. 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 the most capable operational launch vehicle until NASA's SLS launched in 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

RocketConfigurationOrganizationNationalityLiftoff thrustMass to LEOMaiden successful flightHeaviest known launchStatusReusableLaunches(success/total)Cost per launch(adjusted for inflation)Cost per Kg to LEO...to LEO or MEO...to GTO or GSO...to HEO and beyondSaturn IBNASA19669 / 9US$413 million$19,667ProtonKKhrunichev1967275 / 310US$65 million $3,289M2001105 / 116US$65 million$2,826Space ShuttleUnited Space Alliance (USA)1981Classified133 / 135US$601 million$21,855Titan IVLockheed Martinastronautix.com, Titan IV 1989≥ Classified35 / 39US$432 million$20,206Ariane 5ECA/ESAriane Group199890 / 92US$200 million$9,524Delta IV HeavyULA2007Classified15 / 16US$350 million$12,157Angara A5Angara-A5Khrunichev, KBKhA20144 / 5US$100 million (2021)$4,082Angara-A5VKhrunichev, Polyot—Falcon 9 FTExpendedSpaceX201730 / 30US$69.7 million $3,057Long March 5/5BCALT201616 / 17US$160 million$6,400Falcon HeavyRecoverable boosters and first stageSpaceX >2018 ~3 / 3US$95 million> $2,500StarshipBlock 1SpaceX2024 / Block 22025 / Vulcan CentaurVC4ULA20252 / 2US$110 million$5,140VC6—$4,044New GlennBlue Origin20252 / 3US$68-110 million$1,511-2,444Ariane 6A64Ariane Group2026~ 2 / 2US$133 million$6,143Long March 12BCALT2026 1 / 1Zhuque-3ELandSpace—Gravity-2Orienspace—Terran RRelativity Space—NGLVNGLVISRO—NGLV-H—Miura Next HeavyExpendedPLD Space—

Notes

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 to low Earth orbit Medium-lift launch vehicle, capable of lifting between to low Earth orbit Super heavy-lift launch vehicle, capable of lifting more than to Low Earth orbit

References