VEHICLES OF SPACEFLIGHT.

Booster / Stage

Super Heavy — Current Reference

SpaceX’s first-stage booster for Starship, designed to return to the launch site after separating from the spacecraft.

Spacecraft

Starship Spacecraft — Current Reference

SpaceX’s upper-stage spacecraft for Starship missions, designed to carry crew and cargo beyond Earth.

Launch Vehicle

Electron

Rocket Lab’s small orbital launch vehicle for dedicated satellite missions.

Launch Vehicle

Vulcan Centaur

United Launch Alliance launch vehicle with a two-BE-4 booster, Centaur V upper stage and mission-scalable solid rocket boosters.

Launch Vehicle

Falcon Heavy

SpaceX heavy-lift launch vehicle built around three reusable Falcon 9-derived first-stage cores and a common upper stage.

Launch Vehicle

New Glenn

Blue Origin’s orbital launch vehicle with a reusable first stage.

Spacecraft

Orion Spacecraft

NASA’s crew spacecraft for Artemis missions to the Moon.

Launch Vehicle

Space Launch System — Block 1

NASA’s super heavy-lift rocket configuration for launching Orion on Artemis missions.

Launch Vehicle

Falcon 9

SpaceX’s two-stage orbital launch vehicle with a reusable first stage.

Launch Vehicle

Starship System

SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy booster, together forming the Starship launch system.

Photograph — K Enagonio