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Reference.org
Heavy-lift launch vehicle
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<p>A heavy-lift launch vehicle (HLV) is an orbital <a href="/facts/Launch_vehicle/g1GCGFJB">launch vehicle</a> capable of lifting payloads between 20,000 to 50,000 kg (44,000 to 110,000 lb) (by <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a> classification) or between 20,000 to 100,000 kilograms (44,000 to 220,000 lb) (by Russian classification) into <a href="/facts/Low_Earth_orbit/rq1TwayJ">low Earth orbit</a> (LEO). Heavy-lift launch vehicles often carry payloads into higher-energy orbits, such as <a href="/facts/Geosynchronous_transfer_orbit/1WwL0SPz">geosynchronous transfer orbit</a> (GTO) or <a href="/facts/Heliocentric_orbit/b4zMv2jE">heliocentric orbit</a> (HCO). An HLV is between a <a href="/facts/Medium-lift_launch_vehicle/lYXwEPwC">medium-lift launch vehicle</a> and a <a href="/facts/Super_heavy-lift_launch_vehicle/JSwbocv8">super heavy-lift launch vehicle</a>. </p>