Super heavy-lift launch vehicle: Difference between revisions
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The [[Space Launch System]] (SLS) is a US super heavy-lift [[Expendable launch system|expendable launch vehicle]], which is under development as of August 2019. It is the primary launch vehicle of [[NASA]]'s [[deep space exploration]] plans,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/SLSpresentation.html|title=SLS Carries Deep Space Potential|last=Siceloff|first=Steven|date=April 12, 2015|website=Nasa.gov|accessdate=2 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iflscience.com/space/worlds-most-powerful-deep-space-rocket-set-launch-2018/|title=World's Most Powerful Deep Space Rocket Set To Launch In 2018|website=Iflscience.com|accessdate=2 January 2018}}</ref> including the planned crewed lunar flights of the [[Artemis program]] and a possible follow-on [[human mission to Mars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airspacemag.com/space/bigger-saturn-bound-deep-space-180952802/|title=Bigger Than Saturn, Bound for Deep Space|last=Chiles|first=James R.|website=Airspacemag.com|accessdate=2 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/03/for-the-first-time-nasa-has-begun-detailing-its-deep-space-exploration-plans/|title=Finally, some details about how NASA actually plans to get to Mars|website=Arstechnica.com|accessdate=2 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="nsf-201704062">{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/04/nasa-goals-missions-sls-eyes-multi-step-mars/|title=NASA finally sets goals, missions for SLS – eyes multi-step plan to Mars|last=Gebhardt|first=Chris|date=April 6, 2017|access-date=August 21, 2017|website=NASASpaceFlight.com}}</ref> |
The [[Space Launch System]] (SLS) is a US super heavy-lift [[Expendable launch system|expendable launch vehicle]], which is under development as of August 2019. It is the primary launch vehicle of [[NASA]]'s [[deep space exploration]] plans,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/SLSpresentation.html|title=SLS Carries Deep Space Potential|last=Siceloff|first=Steven|date=April 12, 2015|website=Nasa.gov|accessdate=2 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iflscience.com/space/worlds-most-powerful-deep-space-rocket-set-launch-2018/|title=World's Most Powerful Deep Space Rocket Set To Launch In 2018|website=Iflscience.com|accessdate=2 January 2018}}</ref> including the planned crewed lunar flights of the [[Artemis program]] and a possible follow-on [[human mission to Mars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airspacemag.com/space/bigger-saturn-bound-deep-space-180952802/|title=Bigger Than Saturn, Bound for Deep Space|last=Chiles|first=James R.|website=Airspacemag.com|accessdate=2 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/03/for-the-first-time-nasa-has-begun-detailing-its-deep-space-exploration-plans/|title=Finally, some details about how NASA actually plans to get to Mars|website=Arstechnica.com|accessdate=2 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="nsf-201704062">{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/04/nasa-goals-missions-sls-eyes-multi-step-mars/|title=NASA finally sets goals, missions for SLS – eyes multi-step plan to Mars|last=Gebhardt|first=Chris|date=April 6, 2017|access-date=August 21, 2017|website=NASASpaceFlight.com}}</ref> |
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The [[SpaceX Starship]] is both the [[second stage]] of a [[reusable launch vehicle]] and a spacecraft that is being developed by [[SpaceX]], as a [[private spaceflight]] project.<ref name=ars20190929>{{cite news |last=Berger|first=Eric |url=https://arstechnica.com/features/2019/09/after-starship-unveiling-mars-seems-a-little-closer/ |title=Elon Musk, Man of Steel, reveals his stainless Starship |work=[[Ars Technica]] |date=29 September 2019 |accessdate=30 September 2019 }}</ref> It is being designed to be a long-duration [[Cargo spacecraft|cargo]] |
The [[SpaceX Starship]] is both the [[second stage]] of a [[reusable launch vehicle]] and a spacecraft that is being developed by [[SpaceX]], as a [[private spaceflight]] project.<ref name=ars20190929>{{cite news |last=Berger|first=Eric |url=https://arstechnica.com/features/2019/09/after-starship-unveiling-mars-seems-a-little-closer/ |title=Elon Musk, Man of Steel, reveals his stainless Starship |work=[[Ars Technica]] |date=29 September 2019 |accessdate=30 September 2019 }}</ref> It is being designed to be a long-duration [[Cargo spacecraft|cargo]] and [[Human spaceflight|passenger]]-carrying spacecraft.<ref name="engadget20181120">{{cite news |last1=Lawler |first1=Richard |title=SpaceX BFR has a new name: Starship |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/11/20/starship-bfr-spacex/ |accessdate=21 November 2018 |work=Engadget |date=20 November 2018}}</ref> While it will be tested on its own initially, it will be used on [[orbital spaceflight|orbital launches]] with an additional [[Booster (rocketry)|booster]] stage, the [[SpaceX Starship#Super Heavy|Super Heavy]], where Starship would serve as the second stage on a [[two-stage-to-orbit]] launch vehicle.<ref name="gw20181119">{{cite news|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/goodbye-bfr-hello-starship-elon-musk-gives-classic-name-mars-spaceship/|title=Goodbye, BFR … hello, Starship: Elon Musk gives a classic name to his Mars spaceship|last=Boyle|first=Alan|date=19 November 2018|work=[[GeekWire]]|accessdate=22 November 2018|quote=Starship is the spaceship/upper stage & Super Heavy is the rocket booster needed to escape Earth’s deep gravity well (not needed for other planets or moons)|authorlink=Alan Boyle}}</ref> The combination of spacecraft and booster is called Starship as well.<ref name="spaceXstarship">{{cite web|url=https://www.spacex.com/starship|title=Starship|publisher=SpaceX|accessdate=2 October 2019}}</ref> |
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[[New Armstrong]] is a super heavy-lift rocket proposed by [[Blue Origin]]. Payload and timeline are unknown.<ref name="LATimes-2016-09-12">{{cite news |url= http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-blue-origin-rocket-20160912-snap-story.html |title= Blue Origin's new, more powerful rocket will compete with SpaceX |author= Samantha Masunaga |date= September 12, 2016 |newspaper= Los Angeles Times }}</ref> |
[[New Armstrong]] is a super heavy-lift rocket proposed by [[Blue Origin]] to be developed after [[New Glenn]]. Payload and timeline are unknown.<ref name="LATimes-2016-09-12">{{cite news |url= http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-blue-origin-rocket-20160912-snap-story.html |title= Blue Origin's new, more powerful rocket will compete with SpaceX |author= Samantha Masunaga |date= September 12, 2016 |newspaper= Los Angeles Times }}</ref> |
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[[Long March 9]], a {{cvt|140|t|lb}} to LEO capable rocket has been proposed by [[China]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.americaspace.com/?p=22881 |title=First Look: China's Big New Rockets |work=AmericaSpace |first=Craig |last=Covault |date=18 July 2012}}</ref> It has a targeted capacity of {{cvt|50|t|lb}} to lunar transfer orbit and first flight by 2030.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_achieves_key_breakthrough_in_multiple_launch_vehicles_999.html |title=China achieves key breakthrough in multiple launch vehicles |work=Space Daily |accessdate=19 August 2017}}</ref> |
[[Long March 9]], a {{cvt|140|t|lb}} to LEO capable rocket has been proposed by [[China]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.americaspace.com/?p=22881 |title=First Look: China's Big New Rockets |work=AmericaSpace |first=Craig |last=Covault |date=18 July 2012}}</ref> It has a targeted capacity of {{cvt|50|t|lb}} to lunar transfer orbit and first flight by 2030.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_achieves_key_breakthrough_in_multiple_launch_vehicles_999.html |title=China achieves key breakthrough in multiple launch vehicles |work=Space Daily |accessdate=19 August 2017}}</ref> |
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[[Yenisei (rocket)|Yenisei]],<ref name=zak-yenisei>{{cite web |url=http://www.russianspaceweb.com/superheavy.html |title=The Yenisei super-heavy rocket |work=RussianSpaceWeb |first=Anatoly |last=Zak |date=19 February 2019 |access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref> a super heavy-lift launch vehicle using existing components instead of pushing the less-powerful [[Angara A5]]V project, has been proposed by Russia's [[RSC Energia]] in August 2016.<ref name=rt-20160822>{{cite news |url=https://www.rt.com/news/356699-russia-heavy-rocket-moon/ |title=Russia’s A5V moon mission rocket may be replaced with new super-heavy-lift vehicle |publisher=[[RT.com]] |date=22 August 2016 |quote=Energia and Roscosmos are “working on a super heavy-lift launch vehicle (SHLLV) that would use an engine that we already have, the RD-171,” Vladimir Solntsev told Izvestia newspaper. [...] The proposed new SHLLV would initially have a LEO lift of 80 tonnes with a potential to increase the figure to 120 tonnes or even 160 tonnes, according to Solntsev.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://izvestia.ru/news/628028 |language=ru |title=«Роскосмос» создаст новую сверхтяжелую ракету |newspaper=[[Izvestia]] |date=22 August 2016}}</ref> This would allow Russia to launch missions towards establishing a [[Colonization of the Moon|permanent Moon base]] with simpler logistics, launching just one or two 80-to-160-tonne super-heavy rockets instead of four 40-tonne Angara A5Vs implying quick-sequence launches and multiple in-orbit rendezvous.<ref name=rt-20160822 /> In February 2018, the КРК СТК (space rocket complex of the super-heavy class) design was updated to lift at least 90 tonnes to LEO and 20 tonnes to lunar polar orbit, and to be launched from [[Vostochny Cosmodrome]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ria.ru/science/20180202/1513856956.html |title=РКК "Энергия" стала головным разработчиком сверхтяжелой ракеты-носителя |trans-title=RSC Energia is the lead developer of the super-heavy carrier rocket |work=RIA.ru |agency=RIA Novosti |date=2 February 2018 |accessdate=3 February 2018}}</ref> The first flight is scheduled for 2028, with Moon landings starting in 2030.<ref name=popmech-20190208>{{cite news |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a16761777/russia-super-heavy-rocket/ |title=Russia Is Now Working on a Super Heavy Rocket of Its Own |work=[[Popular Mechanics]] |first=Anatoly |last=Zak |date=8 February 2019 |access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref> |
[[Yenisei (rocket)|Yenisei]],<ref name=zak-yenisei>{{cite web |url=http://www.russianspaceweb.com/superheavy.html |title=The Yenisei super-heavy rocket |work=RussianSpaceWeb |first=Anatoly |last=Zak |date=19 February 2019 |access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref> a super heavy-lift launch vehicle using existing components instead of pushing the less-powerful [[Angara A5]]V project, has been proposed by Russia's [[RSC Energia]] in August 2016.<ref name=rt-20160822>{{cite news |url=https://www.rt.com/news/356699-russia-heavy-rocket-moon/ |title=Russia’s A5V moon mission rocket may be replaced with new super-heavy-lift vehicle |publisher=[[RT.com]] |date=22 August 2016 |quote=Energia and Roscosmos are “working on a super heavy-lift launch vehicle (SHLLV) that would use an engine that we already have, the RD-171,” Vladimir Solntsev told Izvestia newspaper. [...] The proposed new SHLLV would initially have a LEO lift of 80 tonnes with a potential to increase the figure to 120 tonnes or even 160 tonnes, according to Solntsev.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://izvestia.ru/news/628028 |language=ru |title=«Роскосмос» создаст новую сверхтяжелую ракету |newspaper=[[Izvestia]] |date=22 August 2016}}</ref> This would allow Russia to launch missions towards establishing a [[Colonization of the Moon|permanent Moon base]] with simpler logistics, launching just one or two 80-to-160-tonne super-heavy rockets instead of four 40-tonne Angara A5Vs implying quick-sequence launches and multiple in-orbit rendezvous.<ref name=rt-20160822 /> In February 2018, the КРК СТК (space rocket complex of the super-heavy class) design was updated to lift at least 90 tonnes to LEO and 20 tonnes to lunar polar orbit, and to be launched from [[Vostochny Cosmodrome]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ria.ru/science/20180202/1513856956.html |title=РКК "Энергия" стала головным разработчиком сверхтяжелой ракеты-носителя |trans-title=RSC Energia is the lead developer of the super-heavy carrier rocket |work=RIA.ru |agency=RIA Novosti |date=2 February 2018 |accessdate=3 February 2018}}</ref> The first flight is scheduled for 2028, with Moon landings starting in 2030.<ref name=popmech-20190208>{{cite news |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a16761777/russia-super-heavy-rocket/ |title=Russia Is Now Working on a Super Heavy Rocket of Its Own |work=[[Popular Mechanics]] |first=Anatoly |last=Zak |date=8 February 2019 |access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref> |
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[[ISRO]] is conducting preliminary research for the development of |
[[ISRO]] is conducting preliminary research for the development of a super heavy-lift launch vehicle which is planned to have a lifting capacity of over 50-60 tonnes (presumably into LEO).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/have-tech-to-configure-launch-vehicle-that-can-carry-50-tonne-payload-isro-chairman/articleshow/62908345.cms|title=Have tech to configure launch vehicle that can carry 50-tonne payload: Isro chairman - Times of India|last=|first=|date=14 February 2018|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref> Contrary to its designation, the "super heavy-lift" variant of the [[Unified Launch Vehicle]], called SHLV, has a planned payload capacity of 41,300 kg which, being less than 50 tonnes, means it does not qualify as a super heavy-lift launch vehicle as per the definition on this page. |
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==Cancelled designs== |
==Cancelled designs== |
Revision as of 15:53, 2 February 2020
A super heavy-lift launch vehicle (SHLLV) is a launch vehicle capable of lifting more than 50 tonnes (110,000 lb) of payload into low Earth orbit (LEO).[1][2]
Flown vehicles
Never made it to orbit
- N1, Soviet Moon rocket. Developed in late 1960s and early 1970s. Made 4 orbital launch attempts but did not reach orbit on any one of those flights. After the 4 failed launches, the project was cancelled in 1976.
Retired
- Saturn V, with an Apollo program payload of a command module, service module, and Lunar Module. The three had a total mass of 45 t (99,000 lb).[3][4] When the third stage and Earth-orbit departure fuel was included, Saturn V actually placed 140 t (310,000 lb) into low Earth orbit.[5] The final launch of Saturn V placed Skylab, a 77,111 kg (170,001 lb) payload, into LEO.
- The Space Shuttle orbited a combined[a] shuttle and cargo mass of 122,534 kg (270,142 lb) when launching the Chandra X-ray Observatory on STS-93.[6] Chandra and its two-stage Inertial Upper Stage booster rocket weighed 22,753 kg (50,162 lb).[7]
- The Energia system was designed to launch up to 105 t (231,000 lb) to low Earth orbit.[8] Energia launched twice before the program was cancelled, but only one flight reached orbit. On the first flight, launching the Polyus weapons platform (approximately 80 t (180,000 lb)), the vehicle failed to enter orbit due to a software error on the kick-stage.[8] The second flight successfully launched the Buran orbiter. [9]
The Space Shuttle and Buran differed from traditional rockets in that both launched what was essentially a reusable stage that carried cargo internally.
Operational, but unproven as super heavy-lift
- Falcon Heavy is rated to launch 63.8 t (141,000 lb) to low Earth orbit (LEO) in a fully expendable configuration and an estimated 57 t (126,000 lb) in a partially reusable configuration, in which only two of its three boosters are recovered.[10][11][b] Neither of these super-heavy lift configurations have been flown or are being planned to fly as of June 2019[update]. The first test flight occurred on 6 February 2018, in a configuration in which recovery of all three boosters was attempted, with a small payload of 1,250 kg (2,760 lb) sent to an orbit beyond Mars.[13][14] Since the vehicle is operational but has not yet been demonstrated to launch payloads over 50 tonnes (110,000 lb) to orbit, it is as yet unproven as a super heavy-lift capable launch vehicle.
Comparison
Rocket | Configuration | Organization | Nationality | LEO payload | Maiden flight | First >50t payload | Operational | Reusable |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturn V | Apollo | NASA | United States | 140 t (310,000 lb)A | 1967 | 1967 | Retired | No |
N1 | L3 | Energia | Soviet Union | 95 t (209,000 lb) | 1969 (failed) | — | Cancelled | No |
Space Shuttle | NASA | United States | 122.5 t (270,142 lb)B | 1981 | 1981 | Retired | Partially | |
Energia | Buran | Energia | Soviet Union | 100 t (220,000 lb)C | 1987 | 1987 | Retired | No |
Falcon Heavy | ExpendedD | SpaceX | United States (private) | 63.8 t (141,000 lb)[15] | Not yetD | Not yet | UnprovenD | No |
Recoverable side boostersE | 57 t (126,000 lb)[10] | Not yetD | Not yet | UnprovenD | PartiallyE | |||
Starship | SpaceX | United States (private) | 150 t (330,000 lb)[16]F | 2020 (planned)[17][18][19] | — | Development | Fully | |
SLS | Block 1 | NASA | United States | 95 t (209,000 lb)[20] | 2020 (planned)[21][22] | — | Development | No |
Block 1B | 105 t (231,000 lb)[23] | 2024 (planned)[24] | — | Development | No | |||
Block 2 | 130 t (290,000 lb)[25] | TBA | — | Development | No | |||
Long March 9 | CALT | China | 140 t (310,000 lb)[26] | 2028 (planned)[27] | — | Development | No | |
Yenisei | Yenisei | JSC SRC Progress | Russia | 103 t (227,000 lb)[28] | 2028 (planned)[29][28] | — | Development | No |
Don | 130 t (290,000 lb)[28] | 2030 (planned)[28] | — | Development | No | |||
New Armstrong | Blue Origin | United States (private) | TBA[30] | TBA | — | Proposed | Partially or Fully |
^A Includes mass of Apollo command and service modules, Apollo Lunar Module, Spacecraft/LM Adapter, Saturn V Instrument Unit, S-IVB stage, and propellant for translunar injection; payload mass to LEO is about 122.4 t (270,000 lb)[31]
^B Includes mass of orbiter and payload during STS-93; deployable payload is 27.5 t (61,000 lb)
^C Required upper stage or payload to perform final orbital insertion
^D Falcon Heavy has not yet flown in a configuration that would allow lifting 50 tonnes to LEO; to date it has only flown in the configuration that permits the possibility of recovery of the centre core (actually doing so is irrelevant) which is a configuration capable of lifting a maximum of 45 tonnes to LEO
^E Side booster cores recoverable and centre core intentionally expended. First re-use of the side boosters was demonstrated in 2019 when the ones used on the Arabsat-6A launch were reused on the STP-2 launch.
^F Does not include dry mass of spaceship
Proposed designs
The Space Launch System (SLS) is a US super heavy-lift expendable launch vehicle, which is under development as of August 2019. It is the primary launch vehicle of NASA's deep space exploration plans,[32][33] including the planned crewed lunar flights of the Artemis program and a possible follow-on human mission to Mars.[34][35][36]
The SpaceX Starship is both the second stage of a reusable launch vehicle and a spacecraft that is being developed by SpaceX, as a private spaceflight project.[37] It is being designed to be a long-duration cargo and passenger-carrying spacecraft.[38] While it will be tested on its own initially, it will be used on orbital launches with an additional booster stage, the Super Heavy, where Starship would serve as the second stage on a two-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle.[39] The combination of spacecraft and booster is called Starship as well.[40]
New Armstrong is a super heavy-lift rocket proposed by Blue Origin to be developed after New Glenn. Payload and timeline are unknown.[41]
Long March 9, a 140 t (310,000 lb) to LEO capable rocket has been proposed by China.[42] It has a targeted capacity of 50 t (110,000 lb) to lunar transfer orbit and first flight by 2030.[43]
Yenisei,[44] a super heavy-lift launch vehicle using existing components instead of pushing the less-powerful Angara A5V project, has been proposed by Russia's RSC Energia in August 2016.[45][46] This would allow Russia to launch missions towards establishing a permanent Moon base with simpler logistics, launching just one or two 80-to-160-tonne super-heavy rockets instead of four 40-tonne Angara A5Vs implying quick-sequence launches and multiple in-orbit rendezvous.[45] In February 2018, the КРК СТК (space rocket complex of the super-heavy class) design was updated to lift at least 90 tonnes to LEO and 20 tonnes to lunar polar orbit, and to be launched from Vostochny Cosmodrome.[47] The first flight is scheduled for 2028, with Moon landings starting in 2030.[29]
ISRO is conducting preliminary research for the development of a super heavy-lift launch vehicle which is planned to have a lifting capacity of over 50-60 tonnes (presumably into LEO).[48] Contrary to its designation, the "super heavy-lift" variant of the Unified Launch Vehicle, called SHLV, has a planned payload capacity of 41,300 kg which, being less than 50 tonnes, means it does not qualify as a super heavy-lift launch vehicle as per the definition on this page.
Cancelled designs
Numerous super-heavy lift vehicles have been proposed and received various levels of development prior to their cancellation.
As part of the Soviet Lunar Project four N1 rockets with a payload capacity of 95 t (209,000 lb), were launched but all failed shortly after lift-off (1969-1972).[49] The program was suspended in May 1974 and formally cancelled in March 1976.[50][51]
During project Aelita (1969-1972), the Soviets were developing a way to beat the Americans to Mars. They designed the UR-700m, a nuclear powered variant of the UR-700, to assemble the 1400 t (3,000,000 lb) MK-700 spacecraft in earth orbit in 2 launches. The rocket would have a payload capacity of 750 t (1,650,000 lb) and is the most capable rocket ever designed. It is often overlooked due too little information being known about the design. The only Universal Rocket to make it past the design phase was the UR-500 while the N1 was selected to be the Soviets HLV for lunar and Mars missions.[52]
Based off of the recommendations of the Stafford Synthesis report, First Lunar Outpost would have relied on a massive Saturn-derived launch vehicle known as the Comet HLLV. The Comet would have been capable of injecting 254.4 tons into low earth orbit and 97.6 tons on a TLI making it one of the most capable vehicles ever designed. FLO was cancelled during the design process along with the rest of the SEI.
The U.S. Ares V for the Constellation program was intended to reuse many elements of the Space Shuttle program, both on the ground and flight hardware, to save costs. The Ares V was designed to carry 188 t (414,000 lb) and was cancelled in 2010, though much of the work has been carried forward into the Artemis program.
A 1962 design proposal, Sea Dragon, called for an enormous 150 m (490 ft) tall, sea-launched rocket capable of lifting 550 t (1,210,000 lb) to low Earth orbit. Although preliminary engineering of the design was done by TRW, the project never moved forward due to the closing of NASA's Future Projects Branch.[53][54]
SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System was unveiled in 2016. The payload capability was to be 550 t (1,210,000 lb) in an expendable configuration or 300 t (660,000 lb) in a reusable configuration.[55] In 2017, it was succeeded by Big Falcon Rocket. Since 2018, it is known as SpaceX Starship.[56]
See also
- Comparison of orbital launch systems
- Sounding rocket, suborbital launch vehicle
- Small-lift launch vehicle, capable of lifting up to 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) to low Earth orbit
- Medium-lift launch vehicle, capable of lifting 2,000 to 20,000 kg (4,400 to 44,000 lb) of payload into low Earth orbit
- Heavy-lift launch vehicle, capable of lifting 20,000 to 50,000 kg (44,000 to 110,000 lb) of payload into low Earth orbit
Notes
- ^ The Space Shuttle orbiter is part of a stage of the launch vehicle (together with the Space Shuttle external tank), but is also itself a spacecraft capable of operating for extended periods with a crew in low Earth orbit. Whether the orbiter mass should be accounted as "payload", or the payload should be accounted as only the cargo and crew carried in the orbiter, may depend on the operational definition used, and hence is debatable. The validity of its inclusion on this page depends on this definition.
- ^ A configuration in which all three cores are intended to be recoverable is classified as a heavy-lift launch vehicle since its maximum possible payload to LEO is under 50,000 kg.[12][11]
References
- ^ McConnaughey, Paul K.; et al. (November 2010). "Draft Launch Propulsion Systems Roadmap: Technology Area 01" (PDF). NASA. Section 1.3.
Small: 0–2 t payloads; Medium: 2–20 t payloads; Heavy: 20–50 t payloads; Super Heavy: > 50 t payloads
- ^ "Seeking a Human Spaceflight Program Worthy of a Great Nation" (PDF). Review of U.S. Human Spaceflight Plans Committee. NASA. October 2009. p. 64-66.
...the U.S. human spaceflight program will require a heavy-lift launcher ... in the range of 25 to 40 mt ... this strongly favors a minimum heavy-lift capacity of roughly 50 mt....
- ^ "Apollo 11 Lunar Module". NASA.
- ^ "Apollo 11 Command and Service Module (CSM)". NASA.
- ^ Alternatives for Future U.S. Space-Launch Capabilities (PDF), The Congress of the United States. Congressional Budget Office, October 2006, pp. X, 1, 4, 9
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: year (link) - ^ "STS-93". Shuttlepresskit.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2000.
- ^ "Heaviest payload launched - shuttle". Guinness World Records.
- ^ a b "Polyus". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Buran". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ a b Musk, Elon [@elonmusk] (12 February 2018). "Side boosters landing on droneships & center expended is only ~10% performance penalty vs fully expended. Cost is only slightly higher than an expended F9, so around $95M" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Capabilities & Services". SpaceX. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ Elon Musk [@elonmusk] (30 April 2016). "@elonmusk Max performance numbers are for expendable launches. Subtract 30% to 40% for reusable booster payload" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Chang, Kenneth (6 February 2018). "Falcon Heavy, SpaceX's Big New Rocket, Succeeds in Its First Test Launch". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
- ^ "Tesla Roadster (AKA: Starman, 2018-017A)". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
- ^ "Falcon Heavy". SpaceX. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ @elonmusk (23 May 2019). "Aiming for 150 tons useful load in fully reusable configuration, but should be at least 100 tons, allowing for mass growth" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "The first SpaceX BFR should make orbital launches by 2020". 19 March 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
- ^ https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2019/03/19/elon-musk-spacexs-starship-built-and-launched-florida/3212090002/
- ^ https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-plans-1-million-people-to-mars-by-2050-2020-1
- ^ Harbaugh, Jennifer, ed. (9 July 2018). "The Great Escape: SLS Provides Power for Missions to the Moon". NASA. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Dunbar, Brian (23 July 2019). "What is Artemis?". NASA. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- ^ "John Honeycutt, NASA SLS program manager, says at the ASEB meeting that while a new associate administrator for human exploration and operations will set a formal launch date for Artemis 1, his team is still working "aggressively" towards a November 2020 launch date". 26 September 2019.
- ^ "Space Launch System" (PDF). NASA Facts. NASA. 11 October 2017. FS-2017-09-92-MSFC. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Sloss, Philip (11 September 2018). "NASA updates Lunar Gateway plans". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ Creech, Stephen (April 2014). "NASA's Space Launch System: A Capability for Deep Space Exploration" (PDF). NASA. p. 2. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Mizokami, Kyle (20 March 2018). "China Working on a New Heavy-Lift Rocket as Powerful as Saturn V". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
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Further reading