Heavy-lift launch vehicle


A heavy-lift launch vehicle, HLV or HLLV, is an orbital launch vehicle capable of lifting between
into low Earth orbit. , operational heavy-lift launch vehicles include the Ariane 5, the Long March 5, the Proton-M and the Delta IV Heavy. In addition, the Angara A5, the Falcon 9 Full Thrust, and the Falcon Heavy are designed to provide heavy-lift capabilities in at least some configurations but have not yet been proven to carry a 20-tonne payload into LEO. Several other heavy-lift rockets are in development. An HLV is between medium-lift launch vehicles and super heavy-lift launch vehicles.

Rated launch vehicles

Operational

Currently operational rockets that have demonstrated their heavy-lift capability to low Earth orbit:

Unproven

Rockets that have not flown a 20-tonne payload to LEO, but are rated over this threshold:

Retired

Formerly operational rockets with a payload capacity of between 20 and 50 tonnes:

In development

Rockets that are actively being developed:

Earlier concepts

Gallery