The Antares launch vehicle is produced by Orbital ATK and is the company’s main workhorse for launch. It is also the newest operating rocket for the company. Most notably, the Antares is used by Orbital ATK in a contract to launch cargo to the International Space Station through 2024. First Launch: April 21st, 2013 Orbit Capabilities (kg): LEO (6,250), SSO (1,500), GTO (2,750), IP (1,800) The Atlas V is produced by the United Launch Alliance and is modular which allows for two separate series of vehicles that allows for a range of payloads at a range of orbits. The Atlas V has proven to be an effective and powerful launcher; notably, sending the Curiosity Rover to Mars in 2011 and in 2013 the MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) to search for the presence of water on Mars. First Launch: August 21st, 2002 Orbit Capabilities (kg): LEO (19,050), SSO (14,490), GTO (8,700) The Delta series is produced by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), which is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and The Boeing Company. The Delta series often contracts out to the U.S. government to launch both civil and military payloads, but will also service commercial payloads. The two most notable payloads launched by a Delta II rocket are the NASA Spirit and Opportunity rovers, sent to the surface of Mars in early 2004. Boasting a highly modular configuration, the Delta II can be tailored depending on the orbit required and size of the payload. The Delta IV is a larger, but equally modular variant as the Delta II. With a common booster core and optional strap-on boosters, the Delta IV provides a significantly heavier lift capability than the Delta II. The Delta IV also meets requirements by both the U.S. Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to launch classified government payloads into orbit. The Delta IV Heavy uses three common booster cores instead of one, providing heavy-lift capabilities. The Delta IV Heavy notably carries the Orion series, classified intelligence satellites, into geostationary orbit for the U.S. government. The Falcon series has been developed by SpaceX and currently comprises of the retired Falcon 1, the operational Falcon 9, and the soon-to-be operational Falcon Heavy. The Falcon 9 is the first commercial reusable orbital launch vehicle to date. The rocket has the ability to deorbit, glide, and land itself on either land or sea-based platform. A common payload is the Dragon cargo capsule, which resupplies the Space Station. SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy is composed of three Falcon 9 cores, giving the company the ability to launch the heaviest of payloads into orbit. SpaceX reports that the Falcon Heavy is able to life twice the capacity, or more, of the Delta-4 Heavy. The Falcon Heavy had an extremely successful first test launch and SpaceX was able to recover 2 of the 3 cores for reuse. Orbital ATK’s Pegasus is a unique due to its mid-air release. The rocket is strapped underneath a Stargazer L-1011 carrier aircraft, flown to altitude, released, and launched. The Pegasus boasts delivering satellites into orbit in under 10 minutes after release. Air-launch allows for a lower cost, but also a lower payload capacity. The Pegasus has launched satellites like the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX), which is currently mapping the limits of the Solar System. The Minotaur I uses residual Minuteman II first and second stages, reusing decommissioned rocket motors and pairs them with Orbital ATK third and fourth stages. Using recommissioned parts from Minuteman IIs allows for a low-cost option for launch. Notably, the Minotaur I is a low-cost option for launching smallsats, CubeSats, and nanosats. Similar to the Minotaur I, Minotaurs IV, V, and VI use decommissioned Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missile lower stages, paired with Orbital ATK upper stages. A Minotaur-5 launched the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE). A combination of the Pegasus and Minotaur, the Minotaur-C has been marked by several payload losses, recently returning to the market after a six-year hiatus to launch a cluster of imaging nanosats. The New Glenn launch vehicle by Blue Origin is still under development and will have a reusable first stage. Notably, the massive satellite constellation being developed by OneWeb, intended to provide global internet, is slated to launch on the New Glenn. The Stratolaunch launch vehicle is being developed by the Stratolaunch Systems Corporation and is an air-launch platform. The vehicle uses dual fuselages and six Boeing 747 engines and is the largest aircraft built to date with a 385-foot wingspan. However, the company has not yet chosen an air-launch rocket to host payloads and are not close to completing full testing and operating status. The Vulcan launch vehicle is the United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) next-generation launch system that is planned to host a variety of payloads and will replace both the Atlas V and Delta IV families. ULA plans on using Blue Origin’s BE-4 rocket engines which can be enhanced by Orbital ATK’s boosters. Additionally, ULA is planning to replace the upper stage of the rocket in 2023 with a more powerful engine, known as the Advanced Cryogenic Evolved Stage (ACES). Notably, ULA and Bigelow Aerospace announced in November 2017 that the two companies will work together to place a habitat into Low Lunar Orbit by the end of 2022 to serve as a lunar depot.Antares
Atlas V
Delta Series
Delta II
Delta IV
Delta IV Heavy
Falcon Series
Falcon 9
Falcon Heavy
LauncherOne
Pegasus
Minotaur Series
Minotaur I
Minotaur IV, V, VI
Minotaur-C (formerly known as Taurus)
New Glenn
Stratolaunch
Vulcan
