Rockets & Launch Vehicles

Specifications, flight records and launch history for the world's major rockets.

Ariane 6

Ariane 6

Operational

Europe's new heavy-lift rocket, successor to the long-serving Ariane 5.

Arianespace7 launches
Atlas V

Atlas V

Operational

United Launch Alliance's reliable expendable rocket, flying since 2002.

United Launch Alliance109 launches
Electron

Electron

Operational

Rocket Lab's small-lift workhorse — high-cadence dedicated launches for small satellites.

Rocket Lab88 launches
Falcon 9

Falcon 9

Operational

SpaceX's partially-reusable workhorse — the most-flown orbital rocket in history.

SpaceX588 launches
Falcon Heavy

Falcon Heavy

Operational

Three Falcon 9 cores strapped together — one of the most powerful operational rockets flying.

SpaceX12 launches
Long March 5

Long March 5

Operational

China's most powerful rocket, enabling its lunar, Mars and space-station ambitions.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation17 launches
New Glenn

New Glenn

Operational

Blue Origin's reusable heavy-lift rocket, named for astronaut John Glenn.

Blue Origin3 launches
Vulcan Centaur

Vulcan Centaur

Operational

ULA's next-generation rocket, replacing Atlas V and Delta IV.

United Launch Alliance4 launches
Starship

Starship

In Development

SpaceX's fully-reusable super heavy-lift rocket — the most powerful launch vehicle ever flown.

SpaceX9 launches
Ariane 5

Ariane 5

Retired

Europe's retired heavy-lift workhorse — famous for launching the James Webb Space Telescope.

Arianespace117 launches
Delta IV Heavy

Delta IV Heavy

Retired

The retired hydrogen-fuelled heavy-lifter that flew America's most sensitive payloads.

United Launch Alliance16 launches
Falcon 1

Falcon 1

Retired

SpaceX's first rocket — the first privately-developed liquid-fuelled launcher to reach orbit.

SpaceX5 launches