Expendable launch system

An expendable launch system is a single-use launch vehicle usually used to launch a payload into space. This is in opposition to a reusable launch system where a single launch vehicle is used more than once.

Most expendable launchers are derivatives of 1950s-era ballistic missiles. Since the entire vehicle is discarded after launch, this may seem like an expensive launch method, but in practice they are cheaper than the one currently-existing reusable (the space shuttle -- see the shuttle article for a discussion of its economics). Most satellites are launched using expendable launchers because they are perceived as a having a low risk of mission failure, a short time to launch, a relatively low cost, and, most importantly, no other options exist.

Many see it as unfortunate that most "modern" expendables are derived from ballistic missiles, as these missiles were built to Cold War specs and with Cold War budgets, and argue that this makes for horrendously expensive launch vehicles. A prime example of this is the Titan IV, probably the most uneconomical launch vehicle in history (perhaps following the Space Shuttle?).

Table of contents

1 Expendable launchers in current use 2 Planned expendable launchers 3 Historical expendable launchers

Expendable launchers in current use

• Ariane 5
• Atlas 5
• Delta 2
• Delta 4
• H-2A rocket
• Long March rocket
• Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
• Proton rocket
• Sea Launch
• Soyuz launch vehicle
• Titan II
• Titan IV

Planned expendable launchers

• Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
• Soyuz/ST

Historical expendable launchers

• Ariane 1
• Ariane 2 and Ariane 3
• Ariane 4
• Atlas rocket
• Delta 3
• Diamant
• Energiya
• Europa rocket
• R-7 rocket
• Saturn IB
• Saturn V
• Titan I (see Titan rocket)
• Titan II
• Titan III

See also space transport and spacecraft propulsion.