Small-lift launch vehicle

A small-lift launch vehicle is a <a href="/facts/Rocket/b6j4keIl">rocket</a> orbital <a href="/facts/Launch_vehicle/g1GCGFJB">launch vehicle</a> that is capable of lifting 2,000 kilograms (4,400 lb) or less (by <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a> classification) or under 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb) (by <a href="/facts/Roscosmos/GzWfae7U">Roscosmos</a> classification) of payload into <a href="/facts/Low_Earth_orbit/rq1TwayJ">low Earth orbit</a> (LEO). The next larger category is <a href="/facts/Medium-lift_launch_vehicle/lYXwEPwC">medium-lift launch vehicles</a>.
The first small-lift launch vehicle was the <a href="/facts/Sputnik_(rocket)/PSYBFRIY">Sputnik</a> rocket, launched by the Soviet Union, which was derived from the <a href="/facts/R-7_Semyorka/g7Qm3GbS">R-7 Semyorka</a> <a href="/facts/ICBM/0vKnj2Y7">ICBM</a>. On 4 October 1957, the Sputnik rocket was used to perform the world's first <a href="/facts/Satellite/PTX8c68t">satellite</a> launch, placing the <a href="/facts/Sputnik_1/GQ5KLlNC">Sputnik 1</a> satellite into a <a href="/facts/Low_Earth_orbit/rq1TwayJ">low Earth orbit</a>.
The US responded by attempting to launch the <a href="/facts/Vanguard_(rocket)/afYAJVSz">Vanguard</a> rocket. However, the <a href="/facts/Vanguard_TV3/dm4uC93u">Vanguard TV3</a> launch attempt failed, with the 31 January 1958 launch of the <a href="/facts/Explorer_1/m4jWb1A0">Explorer 1</a> satellite using the <a href="/facts/Juno_I/kIjnSPvX">Juno I</a> rocket being the first successful US orbital launch. The <a href="/facts/Vanguard_I/HxeNYxP0">Vanguard I</a> mission was the second successful US orbital launch. This was the start of the <a href="/facts/Space_race/9fPV4LUq">space race</a>.

Since the late 1950s, small-lift launch vehicles have continued launching payloads into orbits including LEO, <a href="/facts/Sun-synchronous_orbit/3HonupUd">Sun-synchronous orbit</a> (SSO), and <a href="/facts/Geostationary_transfer_orbit/1WwL0SPz">geostationary transfer orbit</a> (GTO). <a href="/facts/Medium-lift_launch_vehicle/lYXwEPwC">Medium-lift launch vehicles</a>, <a href="/facts/Heavy-lift_launch_vehicle/IUfQAwcI">heavy-lift launch vehicles</a>, and <a href="/facts/Super_heavy-lift_launch_vehicle/JSwbocv8">super heavy-lift launch vehicles</a> have also been extensively developed but have not completely superseded small launch vehicles. Small launch vehicles can meet the requirements of some spacecraft, and can be less expensive than a larger launch vehicle would be.

Small-lift launch vehicle open-in-new

Small-lift launch vehicle