What is a launch vehicle?
A launch vehicle is a rocket system that provides the thrust and trajectory management needed to lift a satellite from Earth's surface and insert it into a target orbit. Launch vehicles are classified by payload capacity to Low Earth Orbit (LEO): small-lift (<2 t), medium-lift (2–20 t), heavy-lift (20–50 t), and super-heavy (>50 t). The choice of launch vehicle depends on satellite mass, target orbit, timeline, and cost.
Major launch providers
SpaceX Falcon 9: The dominant commercial launch vehicle as of 2026, with ~22 t capacity to LEO and a reusable first stage that has cut per-kg launch costs to approximately $2,700/kg. SpaceX Falcon Heavy: 64 t to LEO. Rocket Lab Electron: 300 kg to LEO, dedicated smallsat launcher. Arianespace Ariane 6: European heavy-lift successor to Ariane 5. ISRO PSLV: 1,750 kg to SSO, prolific rideshare provider. Roscosmos Soyuz: Medium-lift workhorse. China's Long March series covers the full mass range. ULA Vulcan Centaur and Blue Origin New Glenn are newer entrants.
Reusability revolution
SpaceX's recovery and reuse of Falcon 9 first stages has fundamentally changed launch economics. A Falcon 9 booster has been flown over 20 times. This reuse model has driven per-kg launch costs down 5–10× since 2010, enabling commercial LEO constellations that would have been unaffordable with expendable rockets. SpaceX Starship, targeting full reusability of both stages, aims to drive costs below $100/kg.