:Well, when the article is substantial and no longer a stub, then its lead will be longer. Articles, at least this one, start small and grow. When there is more to it, the lead will have more to it. I see from above discussions that you have looked at WP:LEAD before, so you may have seen the section on Stub articles, and you have that key bit of guidance to us all, that no novel information is to be introduced in the lead. I guess we both have to hope for someone who knows about Launches, modern and in the age of sail, to fill out the substance of the article.