Heavy-lift launch vehicle

A heavy-lift launch vehicle is an orbital launch vehicle capable of generating a large amount of lift to reach its intended orbit. Heavy-lift launch vehicles generally are capable of lifting payloads between 20000 to 50000 kg (by NASA classification) or between 20,000 to 100,000 kg (by Russian classification) into low Earth orbit (LEO). , operational heavy-lift launch vehicles include the Long March 5 and the Proton-M.

In addition, the Angara A5, the Falcon 9 Full Thrust, the Falcon Heavy, the Vulcan Centaur, Ariane 6, and New Glenn are designed to provide heavy-lift capabilities in at least some configurations but have not yet been proven to carry a 20-tonne payload into LEO. Several other heavy-lift rockets are in development. An HLV is between medium-lift launch vehicles and super heavy-lift launch vehicles.