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Glossary / Super Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle
Vehicles

Super Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle

A launch vehicle capable of delivering more than 50 metric tons to LEO, a class that includes Starship, SLS, and New Glenn.

Super heavy-lift launch vehicles (SHLLV) are rockets capable of placing more than 50 metric tons into low Earth orbit, the largest class of operational launch vehicles. Current and near-term SHLLVs include SpaceX's Starship (100-150+ tonnes to LEO), NASA's Space Launch System (95-130 tonnes), and Blue Origin's New Glenn (~45 tonnes, borderline heavy/super-heavy). China's Long March 9 is also in development.

The emergence of super heavy-lift capability, particularly Starship's fully reusable architecture, is expected to fundamentally alter the economics of space. When per-kilogram costs drop by an order of magnitude, missions that were previously unaffordable become routine: large space stations, orbital fuel depots, crewed Mars missions, and massive Earth observation platforms all become economically viable.

Related Terms

Launch Cost Per Kilogram
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Reusability
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