An expendable launch system (or expendable launch vehicle/ELV) is a
launch vehicle
A launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket designed to carry a payload (spacecraft or satellites) from the Earth's surface to outer space. Most launch vehicles operate from a launch pads, supported by a launch control center and syste ...
that can be launched only once, after which its components are either destroyed during
reentry or discarded in space. ELVs typically consist of several
rocket stages that are discarded sequentially as their fuel is exhausted and the vehicle gains altitude and speed. As of 2022, most
satellite
A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioiso ...
s and
human spacecraft are currently launched on ELVs. ELVs are simpler in design than
reusable launch system
A reusable launch vehicle have parts that can be recovered and reflown, while carrying payloads from the surface to outer space. Rocket stages are the most common launch vehicle parts aimed for reuse. Smaller parts such as rocket engines and ...
s and therefore may have a lower production cost. Furthermore, an ELV can use its entire fuel supply to accelerate its payload, offering greater payloads. ELVs are proven technology in widespread use for many decades.
ELVs are usable only once, and therefore have a significantly higher per-launch cost than modern (post-
STS) reusable vehicles.
Current operators
Arianespace
China
ISRO
JAXA
Roscosmos
United States
Several governmental agencies of the United States purchase ELV launches.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeedi ...
is a major customer with the
Commercial Resupply Services and
Commercial Crew Development programs, also launching scientific spacecraft. The vast majority of launch vehicles for its missions, from the
Redstone missile to the
Delta,
Atlas
An atlas is a collection of maps; it is typically a bundle of maps of Earth or of a region of Earth.
Atlases have traditionally been bound into book form, but today many atlases are in multimedia formats. In addition to presenting geograp ...
,
Titan
Titan most often refers to:
* Titan (moon), the largest moon of Saturn
* Titans, a race of deities in Greek mythology
Titan or Titans may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Fictional entities
Fictional locations
* Titan in fiction, fictiona ...
and
Saturn rocket families, have been expendable. As its flagship crewed exploration replacement for the partially reusable
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle is a retired, partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated from 1981 to 2011 by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the Space Shuttle program. Its official program na ...
, NASA's newest ELV, the
Space Launch System was, , intended to fly in 2020 or 2021, before its first launch was pushed back to 29 August 2022.
The
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army S ...
is also an ELV customer, having designed the Titan, Atlas, and Delta families. Both the
Delta IV
Delta IV is a group of five expendable launch systems in the Delta rocket family introduced in the early 2000s. Originally designed by Boeing's Defense, Space and Security division for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program, t ...
and
Atlas V
Atlas V is an expendable launch system and the fifth major version in the Atlas launch vehicle family. It was originally designed by Lockheed Martin, now being operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Lockheed Marti ...
from the 1994 Evolved ELV (EELV) program remain in active service, operated by the
United Launch Alliance.
Boeing, Lockheed Martin to Form Launch Services Joint Venture , SpaceRef - Your Space Reference
/ref> The National Security Space Launch (NSSL) competition has selected two EELV successors, the expendable Vulcan Centaur and partially reusable Falcon 9
Falcon 9 is a partially reusable medium lift launch vehicle that can carry cargo and crew into Earth orbit, produced by American aerospace company SpaceX.
The rocket has two stages. The first (booster) stage carries the second stage and pa ...
, to provide assured access to space.
Iranian Space Agency
Safir
Simorgh
Qoqnoos
Israel Space Agency
See also
* Comparison of orbital launch systems
* Comparison of orbital launchers families
* Launch vehicle
A launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket designed to carry a payload (spacecraft or satellites) from the Earth's surface to outer space. Most launch vehicles operate from a launch pads, supported by a launch control center and syste ...
* Lists of rockets
* Spacecraft propulsion
Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites. In-space propulsion exclusively deals with propulsion systems used in the vacuum of space and should not be confused with space launch or atmospheric ...
* Spaceflight
Spaceflight (or space flight) is an application of astronautics to fly spacecraft into or through outer space, either with or without humans on board. Most spaceflight is uncrewed and conducted mainly with spacecraft such as satellites in o ...
References
External links
ULA website
Arianespace website
ESA website
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