Big dumb booster

There are two general classes of launch vehicle: big, dumb, and heavy; and small, smart and light.

Big Dumb Boosters (BDB) are built around the idea that it is cheaper to build and operate a large, strong, heavy rocket of simple design than it is to build a smaller, ligher, more cleverly-designed one. The large one, though less efficient, is cheaper in real life since it is easier to build, operate and less likely to break.

As an example, Russian rockets are closer to the BDB concept than their American counterparts. American rockets tend to be built of the most modern, lightest materials available and to extremely tight tolerances. Many of them require very careful handling to avoid being damaged while on the ground. Russian rockets, on the other hand, tend to be built more heavily. They are built with larger margins of strength and to looser tolerances. They make up for the decrease in efficiency by simply being a bit larger.

Unfortunately, few current rockets are big or dumb enough to really put the concept to a true test. All american rockets are derived from ICBMs which seriously calls into question their 'dumbness'. Russian rockets are hard to compare as accurate cost figures are not available.