reusable launch vehicle

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Q30128




A reusable launch vehicle has 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 fairings, boosters or rocket engines can also be reused, though reusable spacecraft may be launched on top of an expendable launch vehicle. Reusable launch vehicles do not need to make these parts for each launch, therefore reducing its launch cost significantly. However, these benefits are diminished by the cost of recovery and refurbishment.

WikimediaWikidata
RLV; reusable launch system
spacecraftlaunch vehicle
Space ShuttleEnergia-Buran vehiclelaunch vehicleLiquid Fly-back BoosterNeutronNew ShepardPushpakRFA Onespacecraftspace shuttleElectronTerran RRepublic of HaitiZhuque-3New GlennFirefly EclipseMiura NextNovaSuraKingdom of Martabam-hongsawatoiFalcon 9Interplanetary Transport SystemMars Colonial TransporterStarshipAshkenazCalvinist Republic of GhentChinlandDemocratic Republic of the CongoHavilahBFRKingdom of WolaitaPersiaSikh ConfederacySwedenTarshishMiura 5Dong Fang Hong 2Ekran

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Location: KML, Cluster Map, Maps,

  • BFR
    reusable space launch and spacecraft system proposed by SpaceX
  • Energia-Buran vehicle
    partially reusable launch system and spacecraft
  • Falcon 9
    partially reusable orbital launch vehicle by SpaceX
  • Interplanetary Transport System
    reusable space launch and spacecraft system proposed by SpaceX
  • Liquid Fly-back Booster
    reusable rocket booster
  • Mars Colonial Transporter
    reusable space launch and spacecraft system proposed by SpaceX
  • Miura 5
    orbital recoverable small-lift launch vehicle developed by Spanish company PLD Space
  • Miura Next
    orbital recoverable heavy-lift launch vehicle under development by Spanish company PLD Space
  • Neutron
    orbital launch vehicle under development by Rocket Lab
  • New Shepard
    suborbital rocket developed by Blue Origin
  • Nova
    Medium-lift reusable launch vehicle
  • RFA One
    space launch vehicle in development
  • space shuttle
    spacecraft capable of repeatedly traveling between destinations in outer space carrying people or cargo
  • Sura
    proposed Ukrainian two-stage rocket
  • Zhuque-3
    orbital heavy-lift launch vehicle from the Chinese company LandSpace
  • Space Shuttle
    partially reusable launch system and space plane developed by NASA (1981–2011)
  • Starship
    SpaceX super heavy-lift reusable launch vehicle
  • Pushpak
    Indian reusable launch vehicle technology demonstrator
  • Electron
    two-stage orbital launch vehicle
  • New Glenn
    orbital launch vehicle developed by Blue Origin
  • Firefly Eclipse
    proposed two-stage orbital launch vehicle
  • Terran R
    partially-reusable launch vehicle in-development by Relativity Space
The inside of the RLV Hangar at KSCThe inside of the RLV Hangar at KSC
ORBCOMM-2 (23282658734)ORBCOMM-2 (23282658734)
TypeSubtypeDateDescriptionNotesSource
classrocketBFRreusable launch vehicleWikidata
classrocketEnergia-Buran vehiclereusable launch vehicleWikidata
classrocketFalcon 9reusable launch vehicle, Falcon, medium-lift launch vehicleWikidata
classrocketInterplanetary Transport Systemreusable launch vehicleWikidata
classrocketLiquid Fly-back Boosterliquid rocket booster, reusable launch vehicleWikidata
classrocketMars Colonial Transporterreusable launch vehicleWikidata
classrocketMiura 5reusable launch vehicle, two-stage-to-orbit, small-lift launch vehicleWikidata
classrocketMiura Nexttwo-stage-to-orbit, reusable launch vehicle, heavy-lift launch vehicleWikidata
classrocketNeutronreusable launch vehicle, two-stage-to-orbit, medium-lift launch vehicleWikidata
classrocketNew Shepardreusable launch vehicleWikidata
classrocketNovareusable launch vehicle, two-stage-to-orbitWikidata
classrocketRFA Onereusable launch vehicle, three-stage-to-orbit, liquid-propellant rocketWikidata
classrocketspace shuttlespacecraft, reusable launch vehicleWikidata
classrocketSurareusable launch vehicle, two-stage-to-orbitWikidata
classrocketZhuque-3two-stage-to-orbit, reusable launch vehicle, heavy-lift launch vehicleWikidata
classrocket1981Space Shuttlereusable launch vehicleWikidata
classrocket2005Starshipreusable launch vehicle, two-stage-to-orbit, super heavy-lift launch vehicleWikidata
classrocket2016Pushpakreusable launch vehicle, technology demonstrationWikidata
classrocket2017Electronreusable launch vehicle, two-stage-to-orbit, small-lift launch vehicleWikidata
classrocket2025New Glennreusable launch vehicle, two-stage-to-orbit, heavy-lift launch vehicleWikidata
classrocket2026Firefly Eclipsetwo-stage-to-orbit, medium-lift launch vehicle, reusable launch vehicleWikidata
classrocket2026Terran Rreusable launch vehicle, two-stage-to-orbit, heavy-lift launch vehicleWikidata
commonsimageThe inside of the RLV Hangar at KSC Commons
commonsimageORBCOMM-2 (23282658734) Commons