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Small-lift launch vehicle

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(Redirected from Small Launch Vehicle)

From left: Scout, Kosmos-3M and Electron, three of the most launched small-lift launch vehicles
Class overview
NameSmall-lift launch vehicle
Preceded bySounding rocket
Succeeded byMedium-lift launch vehicle
BuiltSince 1957
General characteristics
Capacity
  • US definition: <2,000 kg (4,400 lb)
  • Russian definition: <5,000 kg (11,000 lb)

A small-lift launch vehicle is a rocket orbital launch vehicle that is capable of lifting 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb) or less (by NASA classification) or under 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb) (by Roscosmos classification)[1] of payload into low Earth orbit (LEO). Small launch vehicles can meet the requirements of some spacecraft and can be less expensive than a larger launch vehicle would be.[2] The next larger category is medium-lift launch vehicles.[3]

History

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Juno I carrying Explorer 4 in 1958

The first small-lift launch vehicle was the Sputnik rocket, launched by the Soviet Union, which was derived from the R-7 Semyorka ICBM. On 4 October 1957, the Sputnik rocket was used to perform the world's first satellite launch, placing the Sputnik 1 satellite into a low Earth orbit.[4][5][6] The US responded by attempting to launch the Vanguard rocket.[7][8] However, the Vanguard TV3 launch attempt failed, with the 31 January 1958 launch of the Explorer 1 satellite using the Juno I rocket being the first successful US orbital launch. The Vanguard I mission was the second successful US orbital launch. This was the start of the space race.[9][10]

Since the late 1950s, small-lift launch vehicles have continued launching payloads into orbits including LEO, Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), and geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). Medium-lift launch vehicles, heavy-lift launch vehicles, and super heavy-lift launch vehicles have also been extensively developed but have not completely superseded small launch vehicles.

Rated launch vehicles

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Operational

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Under development

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Retired

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Notes

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  1. ↑ OS-M1 Variant of OS-M was launched
  2. ↑ Includes 2 Kuaizhou-1 launches and 26 Kuaizhou-1A launches.
  3. ↑ The lead manufacturer is from Italy, but the rocket has significant contributions from companies based in Belgium, France, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine.

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Osipov, Yuri (2004–2017). Great Russian Encyclopedia. Moscow: Great Russian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 27 May 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "The Space Review: The case for smaller launch vehicles in human space exploration (part 2) (page 2)". www.thespacereview.com. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  3. ↑ NASA Space Technology Roadmaps – Launch Propulsion Systems, p. 11 Archived 24 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine: "Small: 0-2t payloads, Medium: 2-20t payloads, Heavy: 20-50t payloads, Super Heavy: >50t payloads"
  4. ↑ "NASA – NSSDCA – Spacecraft – Details". Nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  5. ↑ "Sputnik launch vehicle 8K71PS (M1-1PS)". Russianspaceweb.com. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  6. ↑ "ЦЭНКИ – Центр эксплуатации объектов наземной космической инфраструктуры". Russian.space. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  7. ↑ "Vanguard Project – U.S. Naval Research Laboratory". Nrl.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  8. ↑ "The Vanguard Satellite Launching Vehicle — An Engineering Summary". B. Klawans. April 1960, 212 pages. Martin Company Engineering Report No 11022, PDF of an optical copy.
  9. ↑ Kennedy, John F. (20 April 1961). "Memorandum for Vice President". The White House (Memorandum). Boston, MA: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. Archived from the original on 21 July 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  10. ↑ Launius, Roger D. (July 1994). "President John F. Kennedy Memo for Vice President, 20 April 1961" (PDF). Apollo: A Retrospective Analysis. Monographs in Aerospace History Number 3. Washington, D.C.: NASA. OCLC 31825096. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2013. Key Apollo Source Documents Archived 8 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ "Iran test launches new satellite-carrying rocket". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  12. ↑ "국내 우주기업 이노스페이스, 발사체 '1·2단 분리 시험' 성공". Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). 23 December 2024.
  13. ↑ "Shavit Data Sheet". Spacelaunchreport.com. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ↑ "Status of North Korean Satellite unknown after prolonged Radio Silence, Reports of Tumbling – Spaceflight101". 12 February 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  15. ↑ Jones, Andrew (12 March 2019). "China's OneSpace completes rocket assembly ahead of first orbital launch". SpaceNews. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  16. 1 2 "Rocket Lab Increases Electron Payload Capacity, Enabling Interplanetary Missions and Reusability". Rocketlab USA. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  17. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Jielong-1 (Smart Dragon-1, SD 1)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  18. ↑ ""双曲线一号S火箭"首飞成功!星际荣耀近期型谱计划出炉!(The Hyperbola 1-S Rocket Made Its First Flight Successfully! Interstellar Glory releases its future plans)". spaceflightfans.cn (in Chinese (China)). Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  19. ↑ Jeongmin Kim (1 June 2023). "North Korea rushed satellite launch after seeing ROK rocket success, Seoul says". NK News. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  20. ↑ "LAUNCH". Gilmour Space. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  21. ↑ "Photographic image of Simorga SIV". I004.radikal.ru. Archived from the original (JG) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  22. ↑ Clark, Stephen (8 November 2020). "New Chinese rocket successful in debut launch". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  23. 1 2 "Kuaizhou". Gunter's Space Pages. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  24. ↑ "fas.org Start1". Fas.org. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  25. ↑ "EROS B". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  26. ↑ "Start-1". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  27. ↑ "Minotaur I Space Launch Vehicle—Fact Sheet" (PDF). Orbital Sciences Corporation. 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012. Spacecraft mass-to-orbit of up to 580 kg to LEO (28.5 deg, 185 km)
  28. ↑ "Minotaur Rocket". Northrop Grumman. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  29. ↑ "China reveals CZ-11 anti-ASAT rocket". Chinadailymail.com. 8 October 2015. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  30. ↑ Barbosa, Rui (25 September 2015). "China debuts Long March 11 lofting Tianwang-1 trio". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  31. ↑ "Firefly Alpha". Firefly Aerospace. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  32. 1 2 "Projects&Products". IHI Aerospace. Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Satellite Launch Vehicles". Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). Retrieved 4 March 2011.
  34. ↑ "Rocket". ABL Space Systems. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  35. ↑ "Strela launcher". Russianspaceweb.com. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  36. ↑ "Strela". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  37. 1 2 "Minotaur-C Factsheet" (PDF). Orbital Science Corporation. 2014.
  38. ↑ "Taurus / Minotaur-C". Gunter's Space Page. May 2014.
  39. ↑ Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "GYUB (South Korean Solid Fueled LV)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  40. ↑ "Minotaur IV Fact sheet" (PDF). Orbital Sciences Corporation. 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  41. ↑ "Minotaur-3/-4/-5/-6 (OSP-2 Peacekeeper SLV)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  42. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Minotaur-3/-4/-5 (OSP-2 Peacekeeper SLV)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  43. ↑ China 'N Asia Spaceflight [@CNSpaceflight] (16 October 2022). "Finally we have more data of the mysterious Tianlong-2: 32.8m tall 5.7m D3.35m fairing 190t liftoff thrust with 7 TH-11(?) 1 300KN closed-cycle kerolox TH-11 vacuum in 2nd stage TH-31 upper stage for payloads deployment 2t to LEO 1.5t to 500km SSO" (Tweet). Retrieved 16 October 2022 – via Twitter.
  44. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Jielong-3 (Smart Dragon-3, SD 3)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  45. ↑ "Perigee Aerospace Inc". Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  46. ↑ "インターステラテクノロジズ株式会社 - Interstellar Technologies Inc". インターステラテクノロジズ株式会社 - Interstellar Technologies Inc.
  47. ↑ "Sustainable Propulsion, Commercial Orbit: How Japan's Interstellar Technologies is Rethinking Small Satellite Launch". New Space Consulting. 9 April 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  48. ↑ "Novos lançadores de satélites e nova empresa espacial para Alcântara". Tecnodefesa. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  49. ↑ "Dedicated Nano Launch Vehicle".
  50. ↑ "Volans". Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  51. ↑ Speed, Richard. "Brit rocketeer Skyrora reckons it'll be orbital in 3 years – that is, if UK government plays ball". www.theregister.com.
  52. ↑ "RUK grants first vertical launch licence, but rocket firm Skyrora still grounded by lack of launchpad". Aerospace Global News. 5 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  53. ↑ "Hapith V". www.tispace.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  54. ↑ "Aevum's Ravn X Drone to Offer Rapid Launches to Low-Earth Orbit | Aevum". 14 December 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  55. 1 2 "Launch Vehicle | Skyroot Aerospace". 10 January 2019. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  56. ↑ "Launch Services | Astra". 25 April 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  57. ↑ Mazzini Puga, Luciana (9 June 2023). "Hacia la soberanía espacial: el lanzador de satélites Tronador II estará listo en 2029" [Towards space sovereignty: the Tronador II satellite launcher will be ready in 2029]. Agencia de Noticias Cientificas (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  58. 1 2 "Aurora: A new generation of launch capability". Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  59. ↑ "Canada Selects Reaction Dynamics to Advance Domestic Orbital Launch Capability". 16 March 2026. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  60. 1 2 "NordSpace Selected by Department of National Defence for Phase 1 Award of $8.3 Million to Advance Sovereign Space Launch". 16 March 2026. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  61. ↑ Rainbow, Jason (21 April 2026). "NordSpace nets Canadian defense funding for VLEO satellite development". Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  62. 1 2 "Canadian Rocket Company". Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  63. ↑ Boucher, Marc (10 June 2026). "Will a European company be the first to launch an orbital rocket from Canada?". Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  64. ↑ "Vanguard". www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2002.
  65. ↑ "Jupiter C". www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016.
  66. ↑ "Not dead yet! What Bob Cringely has been up to... | I, Cringely". www.cringely.com. 23 January 2020.
  67. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "NISSAN HERITAGE COLLECTION online【その他】プリンス自動車工業小史". Nissan. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  68. ↑ "Lambda". Astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  69. ↑ "Launch Vehicles". Department of Space, Government of India. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  70. ↑ "Juno II". www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016.
  71. ↑ "Boeing Unveils Air-Launched Space-Access Concept". www.aviationweek.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013.
  72. ↑ Messier, Doug (2 July 2012). "DARPA Awards 6 Small Airborne Launch Vehicle Contracts – Parabolic Arc". Parabolic Arc. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  73. ↑ "Launch Services | Astra". 25 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  74. ↑ جم, Jamejam, جام (3 February 2012). "ماهواره ملي"نويد علم و صنعت"به‌فضا پرتاب شد". Jamejam Online. Retrieved 7 February 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  75. ↑ "Vector-R — Vector Launch". 16 October 2016. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016.
  76. ↑ "Aura / Signe 3 (D 2B)". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  77. ↑ "Diamant". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  78. ↑ "Vector-H — Vector Launch". 16 October 2016. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016.
  79. ↑ "Capricorno". www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016.
  80. ↑ "NASA – Scout Launch Vehicle Program". Nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 23 March 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  81. ↑ "Vysota / Volna / Shtil". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  82. ↑ "Vysota / Volna / Shtil". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  83. ↑ "CZ-1". Astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  84. 1 2 3 "CZ-1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  85. ↑ Jones, Andrew (2 August 2018). "Landspace of China to launch first rocket in Q4 2018". SpaceNews. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  86. ↑ "Explorer: RAE B". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  87. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Gunter, Krebs. "Delta". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  88. ↑ "NASA – NSSDCA – Spacecraft – Details". Nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  89. ↑ "GEOS 3". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  90. ↑ "VLS". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  91. ↑ "Aviation History, Explorer 47 on Delta 1604, Sept. 38, 1972". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  92. ↑ "Falcon-1". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  93. ↑ "NASA Awards Launch for Orbital's Pegasus Rocket – Parabolic Arc". Parabolicarc.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  94. ↑ "Pegasus". Gunter's Space Pages. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  95. ↑ Abell, John C. (9 September 2009). "Sept. 9, 1982: 3-2-1 ... Liftoff! The First Private Rocket Launch". Wired.
  96. ↑ "Sputnik 2 (PS-2 #1)". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  97. ↑ "Launcher One Service Gide" (PDF). Virgin Orbit. 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019. Spacecraft mass-to-orbit of up to 500 kg to LEO (low inclination, 200 km, 28 deg site)
  98. ↑ Korea, Christoph Bluth, ISBN 9780745633572
  99. ↑ "CZ-1D". www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2002.
  100. ↑ "Athena-1 (LLV-1 / LMLV-1)". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  101. ↑ "Athena-1". Astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  102. ↑ "Explorer: DE 1, 2". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  103. ↑ "JAXA – J-I Launch Vehicle". JAXA – Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  104. ↑ "OSO 8". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  105. ↑ "Delta". www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  106. ↑ Wade, Mark. "Delta 0900". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  107. ↑ "Atlas LV-3B". www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016.
  108. ↑ "JERS (Fuyo)". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  109. ↑ "Cosmos-1, 3, 3M and 3MU – SL-8 – C-1". Russianspaceweb.com. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  110. ↑ "Kosmos-3M (11K65M)". Space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  111. ↑ "NASA, Athena Mission Planner's Guide 26 August 2012" (PDF). Nasa.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  112. ↑ "Athena-2". Astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  113. ↑ "Russia's Rokot launches with three Rodnik satellites". NASASpaceFlight.com. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2019.

Notes

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  1. ↑ A third rocket exploded 3-days before launch
  2. ↑ Suborbital test flights in 1995, 1997 and 2002, no orbital launches attempted

Further reading

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  • Isakowitz, Hopkins, and Hopkins International Guide to Space Launch Systems, AIAA. ISBN 1-56347591-X.
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