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Comparison of orbital launch systems

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This is a comparison of orbital launch systems. The following exposes the full list of conventional orbital launch systems. For the short simple list of conventional launcher families, see: Comparison of orbital launchers families.

Contents

Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites. A conventional solid rocket or a conventional solid-fuel rocket is a rocket with a motor that uses solid propellants (fuel/oxidizer). Orbital launch systems are rockets and other systems capable of placing payloads into or beyond Earth orbit. All current spacecraft use conventional chemical rockets (bipropellant or solid-fuel) for launch, though some have used air-breathing engines on their first stage.

Current and upcoming rockets

Legend for orbit abbreviations in table:

Launch system status legend

Proposed and design concepts

  • Non-rocket spacelaunch
  • References

    Comparison of orbital launch systems Wikipedia