From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rocket able to lift 2,000 kg to low Earth orbit
A small-lift launch vehicle is a
rocket orbital
launch vehicle that is capable of lifting 2,000 kg (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). The next larger category consists of
medium-lift launch vehicles .
[2]
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 .
[3]
[4]
[5]
The US responded by attempting to launch the
Vanguard rocket.
[6]
[7] 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 .
[8]
[9]
Since the late 1950s, small-lift launch vehicles have continued launching payloads to space.
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super heavy-lift launch vehicles have also been extensively developed but have not completely superseded small launch vehicles. Small launch vehicles can meet the requirements of some spacecraft, and can also be less expensive than a larger launch vehicle would be.[
citation needed ]
Rated launch vehicles
Vehicle
Origin
Manufacturer
Mass to
LEO (kg)
Mass to
other orbits (kg)
Launches
Status
First flight
Last flight
Mission cost
SS-520
Japan
IHI
4
2
Retired
2017
2018
$4.5M
[10]
Vanguard
United States
Martin
9
[11]
11(+1)
Retired
1957
1959
Qased
Iran
IRGCASF
10 ~50
3
Operational
2020
Juno I
[12]
United States
Chrysler
11
6
Retired
1958
1959
Veloce 17
United States
Eldorado Space
[13]
12
0
Defunct
Lambda 4S
Japan
Nissan Motors
[14]
26
[15]
5
Retired
1966
1977
[16]
SLV
India
ISRO
40
[17]
4
Retired
1979
1983
Juno II
[18]
United States
Chrysler
41
10
Retired
1958
1961
Boeing Small Launch Vehicle
[19]
United States
Boeing
45
[20]
0
Defunct
Rocket 3
United States
Astra Space, Inc.
45
[21]
7 (+2)
Retired
[22]
2020
2022
$2,5M (2020)
[23]
Safir
Iran
Iranian Space Agency
50
[24]
8
Retired
2008
2019
Vector-R
United States
Vector Space Systems
60
[25]
0(+2)
Defunct
Blue Whale 1
South Korea
Perigee Aerospace
63
[26]
50 to
SSO
0
Development
(2022)
Black Arrow
United Kingdom
RAE
73
[27]
4
Retired
1969
[note 1]
1971
Qaem 100
Iran
IRGC
80
[28]
2(+1)
Operational
2023
Naro-1
South Korea
Russia
KARI /
Khrunichev
100
[29]
3
Retired
2009
2013
Volna
Russia
Makeyev
100
[30]
1(+5)
[31]
Retired
1995
[note 2]
2005
[31]
Kaituozhe-1
China
CALT
100
[32]
2
Retired
2002
2003
[33]
Agnibaan
India
Agnikul Cosmos
100
0
Development
(2022)
SK solid fueled TV2
Republic of Korea
MND
> 100
1
Operational
2023
Diamant
France
SEREB
107
[34]
[35]
12
Retired
1965
1975
Vector-H
United States
Vector Space Systems
110
[36]
0
Defunct
ZERO
Japan
Interstellar Technologies
100 to SSO
[37]
0
Development
(2023)
Capricornio
[38]
Spain
Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial
140
0
Canceled
ASLV
India
ISRO
150
4
Retired
1987
1994
Chetak
India
Bellatrix Aerospace
150
0
Development
(2023)
VLM
[39]
Brazil
Brazilian General Command for Aerospace Technology
150
0
Development
(2023)
Shavit 2
Israel
IAE
160
[40]
12
Operational
1988
Scout
United States
US Air Force /
NASA
174
[41]
125
Retired
1961
1994
Mu-4S
Japan
Nissan Motors
[14]
180
[15]
4
Retired
1971
1972
Mu-3C
Japan
Nissan Motors
[14]
195
[15]
4
Retired
1974
1979
Unha
North Korea
KCST
200
[42]
4
Operational
2009
Haribon SLS-1
Philippines
OrbitX
200
[43]
0
Development
(2023–2024)
DNLV
Malaysia
Independence-X Aerospace
[44]
200
0
Development
(2023)
Volans
Singapore
Equatorial Space Systems
[45]
220
150 to SSO
0
Development
(2023)
Zuljanah
Iran
Iranian Space Agency
220
0 (+2)
Development
(2021)
KAIROS
Japan
Space One
250
150 to SSO
1
Operational
2024
Shtil'
Russia
Makeyev
280 – 420
[46]
2
[31]
Retired
1998
2006
Mu-3H
Japan
Nissan Motors
[14]
300
[15]
3
Retired
1977
1978
Mu-3S
Japan
Nissan Motors
[14]
300
[15]
4
Retired
1980
1984
Long March 1
China
CALT
300
[47]
2
[48]
Retired
[49]
1970
[48]
1971
[48]
Zhuque-1
China
LandSpace
300
[50]
200 to SSO
1
Retired
[51]
2018
2018
Electron
New Zealand
United States
Rocket Lab
300
[52]
200 to SSO
[52]
45
Operational
2017
$7.5M (2019)
[53]
Jielong 1
China
CALT
200 to SSO
1
[54]
Operational
2019
Hyperbola-1
China
i-Space
300
[55]
6
Operational
2020
Chollima-1
North Korea
NADA
≥300
[56]
3
Operational
2023
Vikram 1
India
Skyroot Aerospace
315
255 to SSO
[57]
0
Development
(2023)
Skyrora XL
United Kingdom
Skyrora
315
[58]
0
Development
(2023)
[59]
Delta 1913
United States
McDonnell Douglas
328
[60]
1
[61]
Retired
1973
1973
Delta 2310
United States
McDonnell Douglas
336
[62]
3
[61]
Retired
1974
1981
Delta 1410
United States
McDonnell Douglas
340
[63]
1
[61]
Retired
1975
1975
Simorgh
Iran
Iranian Space Agency
350
[64]
6 (+1)
Operational
2016
Ceres-1
China
Galactic Energy
350
[65]
11
Operational
2020
VLS-1
Brazil
AEB ,
INPE
380
[66]
2
[note 3]
Retired
1997
2003
Delta 1604
United States
McDonnell Douglas
390
[67]
2
[61]
Retired
1972
1973
Hapith V
Taiwan
TiSPACE
390
[68]
350 to SSO
0
Development
Kuaizhou-1
China
CASC
400
[69]
250 to SSO
28
[a]
Operational
2013
[69]
Falcon 1
United States
SpaceX
420
[70]
5
Retired
[71]
2006
2009
Pegasus
United States
Orbital
443
[72]
45
[73]
Retired
1990
2021
$56M (2014)
[74]
Conestoga
United States
Space Services Inc.
500
[75]
3
Retired
1982
1995
Sputnik 8K71PS
Soviet Union
RSC Energia
500
[76]
2
Retired
1957
1957
Launcher One
United States
Virgin Orbit
500
[77]
300 to
SSO
6
Retired
2020
$12M (2020)
[78]
SSLV
India
ISRO /
NSIL
500
300 to SSO
2
Operational
2022
$3.8 to $4.4M (2023) or ₹30 to ₹35 crore
Vikram II
India
Skyroot Aerospace
520
410 to SSO
[57]
0
Development
TBD
Start-1
Russia
MITT
532
[79]
350 to
SSO
[80]
5
[81]
Operational
1993
Minotaur I
United States
Orbital
580
[82]
12
[83]
Operational
2000
$28.8M (2013)
[84]
Long March 6
China
CALT
500 to SSO
11
Operational
2015
Rocket 4
United States
Astra Space, Inc.
600
[85]
0
Development
[86]
(2023)
Long March 11
China
CALT
700
[87]
17
Operational
2015
[88]
Paektusan
North Korea
KCST
700
[89]
1
Retired
1998
Vikram III
India
Skyroot Aerospace
720
580 to SSO
[57]
0
Development
TBD
Long March 1D (CZ-1D)
China
CALT
740
[90]
0(+3)
Retired
1995
[note 4]
2002
Tronador II
Argentina
CONAE
750
[91]
0
Development
2029
Mu-3SII
Japan
Nissan Motors
[14]
770
[15]
8
Retired
1985
1995
Athena I
United States
Lockheed Martin
795
[92]
515 to GTO
4
[93]
Retired
1995
2001
$17M (2000)
[94]
Delta 3913
United States
McDonnell Douglas
816
[95]
1
[61]
Retired
1981
1981
Miura 5
Spain
PLD Space
900
0
Development
(2024)
[96]
Alpha
United States
Firefly Aerospace
1,000
[97]
600 to SSO
4
Operational
2021
$15M (2020)
[98]
J-I
Japan
IHI Corporation
Nissan Motors
[14]
1,000
[99]
0(+1)
Retired
1996
1996
Spectrum
Germany
Isar Aerospace
1,000
700 to SSO
0
Development
(2023)
Delta 1910
United States
McDonnell Douglas
1,066
[100]
1
[61]
Retired
1975
1975
N-I
Japan
United States
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
1,200
[101]
7
Retired
1975
1982[
citation needed ]
Epsilon
Japan
IHI Aerospace
[102]
1,200
[15]
5
Operational
[15]
2013
$38M
[103]
Terran 1
United States
Relativity Space
1,250
1
Retired
2023
2023
$10M (2019)
[104]
Delta 0900
United States
McDonnell Douglas
1,300
[105]
818 to SSO
[61]
2
[61]
Retired
1972
1972
Sputnik 8A91
Soviet Union
RSC Energia
1,327
2
Retired
1958
1958
RS1
United States
ABL Space Systems
1,350
[106]
400 to GTO
1
Operational
2023
$12M (2021)
[107]
Atlas LV-3B
[108]
United States
Convair
1,360
9
Retired
1960
1963
Strela
Russia
Khrunichev
1,400
[109]
3
[110]
Operational
[110]
2003
H-I
Japan
United States
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
1,400
[111]
9
Retired
1986
1992
Minotaur-C
United States
Orbital
1,450
[112]
1,050
[112] to SSO
10
[113]
Operational
[114]
1994
$45M
[115]
Kosmos-3M
Soviet Union
Russia
NPO Polyot
1,500
[116]
442
[117]
Retired
1967
2010
Kuaizhou-11
China
CASC
1,500
1,000 to SSO
2
Operational
SK solid fueled LV
Republic of Korea
MND
1,500
0
Development
TBD
Minotaur IV
United States
Orbital
1,735
[118]
7
[119]
Operational
2010
[120]
$50M
[121]
M-V
Japan
Nissan Motors
[14] (−2000)
IHI AEROSPACE
[102] (−2006)
1,800 – 1,850
[15]
7
Retired
1997
2006
Athena II
United States
Lockheed Martin
1,800
[122]
3
[123]
Retired
[124]
1998
1999
$46M (2014)
[125]
Delta 1900
United States
McDonnell Douglas
1,800
[61]
1
[61]
Retired
1973
1973
Delta 2910
United States
McDonnell Douglas
1,887
[61]
6
[61]
Retired
1975
1978
Hyperbola-2
China
i-Space
1,900
[126]
4
Development
Rokot
Soviet Union
Russia
Khrunichev
1,950
[127]
1,200 to SSO
34
Retired
1990
2019
$41M
Vega
Italy
Avio
1,450 to SSO
21
Operational
2012
$37M
[115]
Kinetica 1
China
CAS Space
2,000
1,500 to SSO
3
Operational
2022
Tianlong-2
China
Space Pioneer
2,000
[128]
1,500 to SSO
1
Operational
2023
Jielong 3
China
CALT
1,500 to SSO
3
[129]
Operational
2022
OS-M
[b]
China
OneSpace
205
[130]
73 to SSO
1
Operational
2019
^ Includes 2 Kuaizhou-1 launches and 26 Kuaizhou-1A launches.
^ OS-M1 Variant of OS-M was launched
See also
Sounding rocket , suborbital launch vehicle
Medium-lift launch vehicle , capable of lifting between 2,000 and 20,000 kg to low Earth orbit
Heavy lift launch vehicle , capable of lifting between 20,000 and 50,000 kg to low Earth orbit
Super heavy-lift launch vehicles , capable of lifting more than 50,000 kg (110,000 lb) of payload into LEO
Comparison of orbital launch systems
List of orbital launch systems
Comparison of orbital rocket engines
Comparison of space station cargo vehicles
Rocket
Spacecraft propulsion
References
^ Osipov, Yuri (2004–2017).
Great Russian Encyclopedia . Moscow: Great Russian Encyclopedia. Archived from
the original on 27 May 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021 .
^
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"
^
"NASA – NSSDCA – Spacecraft – Details" . Nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Sputnik launch vehicle 8K71PS (M1-1PS)" . Russianspaceweb.com . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"ЦЭНКИ – Центр эксплуатации объектов наземной космической инфраструктуры" . Russian.space . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Vanguard Project – U.S. Naval Research Laboratory" . Nrl.navy.mil . Archived from
the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"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.
^
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 .
^ 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 .
^
"ss-520-5" .
^
"Vanguard" . www.astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 6 May 2002.
^
"Jupiter C" . www.astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 27 December 2016.
^
"Not dead yet! What Bob Cringely has been up to... | I, Cringely" . www.cringely.com . 23 January 2020.
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
"NISSAN HERITAGE COLLECTION online【その他】プリンス自動車工業小史" .
Nissan Motors . Retrieved 8 March 2011 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
"Satellite Launch Vehicles" .
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) . Retrieved 4 March 2011 .
^
"Lambda" . Astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Launch Vehicles" . Department of Space, Government of India. Archived from
the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014 .
^
"Juno II" . www.astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 27 December 2016.
^
"Boeing Unveils Air-Launched Space-Access Concept" . www.aviationweek.com . Archived from
the original on 26 March 2013.
^
"DARPA Awards 6 Small Airborne Launch Vehicle Contracts – Parabolic Arc" . 2 July 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2021 .
^
"Launch Services | Astra" . 25 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2022 .
^
"Astra cancels Rocket 3" . 4 August 2022.
^ Sheetz, Michael (16 June 2020).
"Rocket startup Astra trying for an orbital launch again in July, renewing fundraising efforts" . CNBC . Retrieved 31 January 2022 .
^ 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 )
^
"Vector-R — Vector Launch" . 16 October 2016. Archived from
the original on 16 October 2016.
^
"Perigee Aerospace Inc" . Retrieved 2 February 2020 .
^
"Black Arrow" . www.astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 6 December 2007.
^
"Iran test launches new satellite-carrying rocket" . www.aljazeera.com . Retrieved 24 November 2022 .
^
"STSAT 2C" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"IRDT 1, 2, 2R" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
a
b
c
"Vysota / Volna / Shtil" . Retrieved 23 December 2014 .
^
"KT-1" . 12 May 2008. Archived from
the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Kaituozhe-1 (KT-1)" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Aura / Signe 3 (D 2B)" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Diamant" . space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Vector-H — Vector Launch" . 16 October 2016. Archived from
the original on 16 October 2016.
^
"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 .
^
"Capricorno" . www.astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 28 December 2016.
^
"Novos lançadores de satélites e nova empresa espacial para Alcântara" . Tecnodefesa. Retrieved 12 April 2022 .
^
"Shavit Data Sheet" . Spacelaunchreport.com . Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2019 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link )
^
"NASA – Scout Launch Vehicle Program" . Nasa.gov . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Status of North Korean Satellite unknown after prolonged Radio Silence, Reports of Tumbling – Spaceflight101" . Retrieved 12 November 2019 .
^ Matias, Jairus (7 January 2019).
"Local space venture gears up for first rocket launch" . BusinessWorld . Retrieved 6 February 2021 .
^
"Dedicated Nano Launch Vehicle" .
^
"Volans" .
^
"Vysota / Volna / Shtil" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"CZ-1" . Astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
a
b
c
"CZ-1" . Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 12 February 2014 .
^
"CZ-1" . Astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2013 .
^ Jones, Andrew (2 August 2018).
"Landspace of China to launch first rocket in Q4 2018" .
SpaceNews . Retrieved 16 August 2018 .
^ Jones, Andrew (12 July 2023).
"China's Landspace reaches orbit with methane-powered Zhuque-2 rocket" .
SpaceNews . Retrieved 12 July 2023 .
^
a
b
"Rocket Lab Increases Electron Payload Capacity, Enabling Interplanetary Missions and Reusability" . Rocketlab USA . Retrieved 7 August 2020 .
^
"Rocket Lab adds new $7.5 million 'Mission Success' coin to its online store" . 16 December 2019.
^ Krebs, Gunter.
"Jielong-1 (Smart Dragon-1, SD 1)" . Gunter's Space Page . Retrieved 2 November 2019 .
^
" "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 .
^ Jeongmin Kim (1 June 2023).
"North Korea rushed satellite launch after seeing ROK rocket success, Seoul says" . NK News . Retrieved 2 June 2023 .
^
a
b
c
"Launch Vehicle | Skyroot Aerospace" . 10 January 2019. Archived from
the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020 .
^ Speed, Richard.
"Brit rocketeer Skyrora reckons it'll be orbital in 3 years – that is, if UK government plays ball" . www.theregister.com .
^ Etherington, Darrell (3 February 2020).
"Launch startup Skyrora successfully tests 3D-printed rocket engines powered by plastic waste" .
TechCrunch . Retrieved 4 March 2020 .
^
"Explorer: RAE B" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l Gunter, Krebs.
"Delta" . Gunter's Space Page. Archived from
the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011 .
^
"NASA – NSSDCA – Spacecraft – Details" . Nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"GEOS 3" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Photographic image of Simorga SIV" . I004.radikal.ru . Archived from
the original (JG) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^ Clark, Stephen (8 November 2020).
"New Chinese rocket successful in debut launch" . Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 30 May 2022 .
^
"VLS" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Aviation History, Explorer 47 on Delta 1604, Sept. 38, 1972" . Flightglobal.com . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Hapith V" . www.tispace.com . Archived from
the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2020 .
^
a
b
"Kuaizhou" . Gunter's Space Pages . Retrieved 31 December 2014 .
^
"Falcon-1" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Space Exploration Technologies Corporation – Falcon 1" . Archived from
the original on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2010 .
^
"NASA Awards Launch for Orbital's Pegasus Rocket – Parabolic Arc" . Parabolicarc.com . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Pegasus" . Gunter's Space Pages . Retrieved 31 December 2014 .
^
"Northrop Grumman seeking to cut costs on small launch vehicles" . SpaceNews . 24 September 2018.
^ Abell, John C. (9 September 2009).
"Sept. 9, 1982: 3-2-1 ... Liftoff! The First Private Rocket Launch" . Wired .
^
"Sputnik 2 (PS-2 #1)" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"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)
^ Chang, Kenneth (25 May 2020).
"Virgin Orbit Launch Attempt Ends Without Trip to Space" . The New York Times .
^
"fas.org Start1" . Fas.org . Archived from
the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"EROS B" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Start-1" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"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)
^
"Minotaur Rocket" . Northrop Grumman . Retrieved 31 January 2022 .
^
"Spaceflight Now | Minotaur Launch Report | Student-built satellites, military payloads put in orbit" .
^
"Launch Services | Astra" . 25 April 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2023 .
^
"Launch System 2 Update" . 7 November 2022.
^
"China reveals CZ-11 anti-ASAT rocket" . Chinadailymail.com . 8 October 2015. Archived from
the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^ Barbosa, Rui (25 September 2015).
"China debuts Long March 11 lofting Tianwang-1 trio" . NASASpaceFlight.com . Retrieved 26 September 2015 .
^ Korea, Christoph Bluth,
ISBN
9780745633572
^
"CZ-1D" . www.astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 25 May 2002.
^ 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 .
^
"Athena-1 (LLV-1 / LMLV-1)" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Athena-1" . Astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013 .
^
"Athena-1" . www.astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 27 December 2016.
^
"Explorer: DE 1, 2" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Spanish startup PLD Space gears up for 2022 suborbital launch" . SpaceNews . 24 November 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2022 .
^
"Firefly Alpha" .
Firefly Aerospace . Archived from
the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2018 .
^
"Launch-alpha" . Archived from
the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2020 .
^
"JAXA – J-I Launch Vehicle" . JAXA – Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"OSO 8" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Delta" . www.astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 3 March 2016.
^
a
b
"Projects&Products" . IHI Aerospace. Archived from
the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011 .
^
"Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Japan's 'affordable' Epsilon rocket triumphs on first flight" . spaceflightnow.com . Retrieved 10 June 2020 .
^ Knapp, Alex.
"Relativity Space Just Raised $140 Million To Send Its 3D-Printed Rockets Into Orbit" . Forbes .
^ Wade, Mark.
"Delta 0900" . Encyclopedia Astronautica . Archived from
the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011 .
^
"Rocket" . ABL Space Systems . Archived from
the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022 .
^ Sheetz, Michael (25 October 2021).
"Rocket builder ABL raises $200 million, increasing valuation to $2.4 billion" . CNBC . Retrieved 31 January 2022 .
^
"Atlas LV-3B" . www.astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 27 December 2016.
^
"Strela launcher" . Russianspaceweb.com . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
a
b
"Strela" . Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 23 December 2014 .
^
"JERS (Fuyo)" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
a
b
"Minotaur-C Factsheet" (PDF) . Orbital Science Corporation . 2014.
^
"Taurus / Minotaur-C" . Gunter's Space Page . May 2014.
^
"Taurus" . Archived from
the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2015 .
^
a
b Office, U. S. Government Accountability (16 August 2017).
Surplus Missile Motors: Sale Price Drives Potential Effects on DOD and Commercial Launch Providers (Report).
^
"Cosmos-1, 3, 3M and 3MU – SL-8 – C-1" . Russianspaceweb.com . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Kosmos-3M (11K65M)" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Minotaur IV Fact sheet" (PDF) . Orbital Sciences Corporation. 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2009 .
^
"Minotaur-3/-4/-5/-6 (OSP-2 Peacekeeper SLV)" . Gunter's Space Page . Retrieved 31 January 2022 .
^ Krebs, Gunter.
"Minotaur-3/-4/-5 (OSP-2 Peacekeeper SLV)" . Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 7 February 2018 .
^
"Spaceflight Now | Minotaur Launch Report | Minotaur rocket poised to send research to new heights" . spaceflightnow.com . Retrieved 10 June 2020 .
^
"NASA, Athena Mission Planner's Guide 26 August 2012" (PDF) . Nasa.gov . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Athena-2" . Astronautix.com . Archived from
the original on 8 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013 .
^
"Athena-2 (LLV-2 / LMLV-2)" . Space.skyrocket.de . Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^
"Lockheed Targets 2014 for Athena 2 Rideshare Debut" . SpaceNews . 7 May 2012.
^
"Hyperbola-2" . Retrieved 11 January 2022 .
^
"Russia's Rokot launches with three Rodnik satellites" . NASASpaceFlight.com . 23 September 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2019 .
^ 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 .
^ Krebs, Gunter.
"Jielong-3 (Smart Dragon-3, SD 3)" . Gunter's Space Page . Retrieved 9 December 2022 .
^ Jones, Andrew (12 March 2019).
"China's OneSpace completes rocket assembly ahead of first orbital launch" .
SpaceNews . Retrieved 30 March 2024 .
Notes
^ Suborbital test in 1969, first orbital launch attempt in 1970
^ First orbital launch attempt in 2005
^ A third rocket exploded before launch
^ Suborbital test flights in 1995, 1997 and 2002, no orbital launches attempted
Further reading
Isakowitz, Hopkins, and Hopkins International Guide to Space Launch Systems , AIAA.
ISBN
1-56347591-X .
External links