Launch Vehicle Classification

The **Classification of Launch Vehicles** is sorting the many launch vehicles into groups.

## Classification by Lifting Capacity

This system of classification is based off the launch vehicles' maximum payload mass that it can carry to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The classification is as follows below.

* Small Load Lifting Vehicle (SLLV) - 2,000 kg or less to LEO
* Medium Load Lifting Vehicle (MLLV) - 2,000 to 20,000 kg to LEO
* Heavy Load Lifting Vehicle (HLLV) - 20,000 to 50,000 kg to LEO
* Super Heavy Load Lifting Vehicle (SHLLV) - 50,000 kg or more to LEO

*Spacecraft Wiki* has a complete list of all flown SHLLVs and all HLLVs in the links above. We also have incomplete lists for MLLVs and SLLVs due to the high number of vehicles, however they have the most prominent ones and most that are mentioned on the wiki elsewhere. Suborbital rockets are not included here as being unable to reach orbit, they have no maximum payload mass to orbit.

## Classification by Number of Stages to Orbit

This system of classification is based off the number of the launch vehicles' stages needed to reach orbit. The classification as is follows below.

* Single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) - Only 1 stage (one vehicle) in order to reach orbit. Zero stages must be discarded. eg. VentureStar
* Two-stages-to-orbit (TSTO) - Only 2 stages in order to reach orbit. One stage must be discarded. Most rockets are TSTO.
* Multi-stage-to-orbit (MSTO) - More than 2 stages in order to reach orbit. Multiple stages must be discarded. eg. Atlas V

As of 2021, no SSTO has launched from Earth (the Apollo LM was an SSTO on the Moon).

## Classification by Launch and Landing Orientation

This system of classification is based off the launch vehicles' orientation during launch and landing. This classification only applies to reusable spacecraft or launch vehicles. The classification as is follows below.

* Vertical Takeoff, Vertical Landing (VTVL) - Takes off and lands vertically (like a rocket) eg. Falcon 9 Booster
* Vertical Takeoff, Horizontal Landing (VTHL) - Takes off vertically (like a rocket) and lands horizontally (like an airplane) eg. Space Shuttle
* Horizontal Takeoff, Horizontal Takeoff (HTHL) - Takes off and lands horizontally (like an airplane) eg. SpaceShipOne
* Horizontal Takeoff, Vertical Takeoff (HTVL) - Takes off horizontally (like an airplane) and lands vertically (propulsive landing)

As of 2021, no HTVL launch vehicle has been flown or even seriously considered.

## Classification by Reusability

This system of classification is based off the launch vehicles' reusability. The classification as is follows below.

* Reusable Launch Vehicle - whole system can be recovered and used for another launch
* Partially-reusable Launch Vehicle - only certain parts can be recovered and used for another launch
* Expendable Launch Vehicle - no parts can be recovered and used for another launch

All launch vehicles were expendable until the Space Shuttle which was the first partially reusable launch vehicle, although the original proposal would have been fully reusable. The first fully reusable space launch vehicle was New Shepard, however it is suborbital. As of 2021, no fully reusable orbital launch has been flown, however the fully reusable SpaceX Starship system is currently in development, at the current rate of testing, it looks like it will become the first by 2023.