Heavy-lift launch vehicle

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV-Heavy rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload launches Aug. 28, 2013, from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

Ariane 5 ES launch

Proton-M on the launch pad

A heavy-lift launch vehicle, or HLV or HLLV, is an orbital launch vehicle capable of lifting between 20,000 to 50,000 kg to low Earth orbit.^[1] The current heavy-lift launch vehicles in service are the Ariane 5 in its ES and ECA variants, the Russian Proton-M, the Chinese Long March 5, and the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy.^[2]

Heavy lift launch vehicles

Currently operational heavy-lift launch vehicles include:

• Ariane 5 ECA & ES 1996 to present - European Space Agency (ESA) 21,000 kg (46,000 lb)^[3]
• Delta IV Heavy 2004 to present - World's highest capacity rocket currently in operation. Payload to LEO 28,790 kg (63,470 lb).^[4]
• Long March 5 (CZ-5) 2016 to present - China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.^[5] Payload to LEO 25,000 kg (55,115 lb).
• Proton-M 2001 to present - Russian 21,600 kg (47,600 lb)^[6]

Unproven HLLVs

The following HLLVs have not yet flown with a payload that would classify them as an HLLV:

• Angara A5 24,500 kg (54,000 lb)^[7] (not yet flown with heavy payload)
• Falcon 9 FT 22,800 kg (50,300 lb)^[8] in a non-reusable configuration - SpaceX (Other configurations are classified as a medium-lift launch vehicle since payload to LEO is under 20,000 kg)

Former HLLVs

The following HLLVs were operational:

• Saturn IB from Apollo 5 1968 (retired after 9 launches) 21,000 kg (46,000 lb) ^[9]
• Titan IV 1989 to 2005 (retired after successful 35 launches) 21,680 kg (47,800 lb) ^[10]
• Space Shuttle 1981 to 2011 (retired after 135 launches) 24,400 kg (53,800 lb) of cargo bay payload only. ^[11]

In development

Four HLLVs are currently being developed:

• Vulcan - United Launch Alliance^[12]
• Ariane 6 - European Space Agency^[13]
• Falcon Heavy in a partially reusable configuration - SpaceX (Other configurations are classified as a super heavy-lift launch vehicle since payload to LEO is over 50,000 kg)
• New Glenn - Blue Origin

Earlier concepts

• (NASA's Ares I was in the planning stages when canceled in 2010)^[14]

See also

• Sounding rocket non orbiting.
• Small-lift launch vehicle capable of lifting up to 2,000 kg to low Earth orbit.
• Medium-lift launch vehicle capable of lifting between 2,000 and 20,000 kg (4,400 to 44,100 lb) of payload into Low Earth orbit.
• Super heavy-lift launch vehicle capable of lifting more than 50,000 kg (110,000 lb) of payload into Low Earth orbit.
• Comparison of orbital launch systems
• Comparison of orbital rocket engines
• Comparison of space station cargo vehicles
• Rocket
• Spacecraft propulsion

References

Comparison of maximum payload to low Earth orbit (LEO) (Left to right). Space Shuttle payload includes 7 crew and cargo. Ares I payload includes 4 crew and inherent craft. Saturn V payload includes 3 crew, inherent craft and cargo. Ares V payload includes only cargo and inherent craft. The Saturn V was capable of lifting approximately 140 metric tons of payload to LEO. The Ares V was being designed to lift 188 metric tons to LEO.

Comparison of Saturn V, Shuttle, Ares I, Ares V, Ares IV, and SLS Block I

Further reading

• Mallove, Eugene F. and Matloff, Gregory L. The Starflight Handbook: A Pioneer's Guide to Interstellar Travel, Wiley. ISBN 0-471-61912-4.