![Apollo 17 The Last Moon Shot Edit ro](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Apollo_17_The_Last_Moon_Shot_Edit_ro.jpg)
This article compares different orbital launcher families (although many launchers that are significantly different from other members of the same 'family' have their own separate entries). The article is organized into two tables: the first table contains a list of currently active and under-development launcher families, while the second table contains a list of retired launcher families.
The related article "
Comparison of orbital launch systems
This comparison of orbital launch systems lists the attributes of all individual rocket configurations designed to reach orbit. A first list contains rockets that are operational or in development as of 2022; a second list includes all retired roc ...
" contains tables that list each individual launcher system within any given launcher family, categorized by its current operational status.
Description
* Family: Name of the family/model of launcher
* Country: Origin country of launcher
* Manufac.: Main manufacturer
* Payload: Maximum mass of payload, for 3 altitudes
** LEO,
low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit (LEO) is an orbit around Earth with a period of 128 minutes or less (making at least 11.25 orbits per day) and an eccentricity less than 0.25. Most of the artificial objects in outer space are in LEO, with an altitude never mor ...
** GTO,
geostationary transfer orbit
A geosynchronous transfer orbit or geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is a type of geocentric orbit. Satellite, Satellites that are destined for geosynchronous orbit, geosynchronous (GSO) or geostationary orbit (GEO) are (almost) always put into ...
** TLI,
trans-Lunar injection
A trans-lunar injection (TLI) is a propulsive maneuver used to set a spacecraft on a trajectory that will cause it to arrive at the Moon.
History
The first space probe to attempt TLI was the Soviet Union's Luna 1 on January 2, 1959 which wa ...
* Cost: Price for a launch at this time, in millions of US$
* Launches reaching...
** Total: Flights which lift-off, or where the vehicle is destroyed during the terminal count
Note: only includes orbital launches (flights launched with the intention of reaching orbit). Suborbital tests launches are not included in this listing.
** Space (regardless of outcome): Flights which reach approximately 100 km or more above Earth's surface.
** Any orbit (regardless of outcome): Flights which achieve at least one complete orbit even if the orbit differs from the targeted orbit.
** Target orbit (without damage to the payload)
* Status: Actual status of launcher (retired, development, active)
* Date of flight
** First: Year of first flight of first family member
** Last (if applicable): Year of Last flight (for vehicles retired from service)
* Refs: citations
Same cores are grouped together (like Ariane 1, 2 & 3, but not V).
List of active and under-development launcher families
List of retired launcher families
See also
*
Comparison of orbital launch systems
This comparison of orbital launch systems lists the attributes of all individual rocket configurations designed to reach orbit. A first list contains rockets that are operational or in development as of 2022; a second list includes all retired roc ...
*
Comparison of orbital rocket engines
*
Comparison of space station cargo vehicles
Comparison or comparing is the act of evaluating two or more things by determining the relevant, comparable characteristics of each thing, and then determining which characteristics of each are similar to the other, which are different, and t ...
*
List of orbital launch systems
This is a list of conventional orbital launch systems. This is composed of launch vehicles, and other conventional systems, used to place satellites into orbit.
Argentina
*ORBIT II – ''Retired''
* TRONADOR – ''Under Development''
Australia
...
Notes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orbital launcher family comparison
*
Technological comparisons