Heavy-lift launch vehicle

From left to right: Falcon Heavy, Long March 5, Proton-M
Class overview
Name	Heavy-lift launch vehicle
Operators	Various space organizations
Preceded by	Medium-lift launch vehicle
Succeeded by	Super heavy-lift launch vehicle
Built	1966–
On order	Angara A5 Falcon 9 Full Thrust Falcon Heavy Vulcan Centaur Ariane 6 New Glenn
Active	Long March 5 Proton-M
Retired	Saturn IB Proton-K Space Shuttle Titan IV Ariane 5 Delta IV Heavy
General characteristics
Propulsion	Various liquid-fueled engines and solid motors
Capacity	20–50 metric tons (NASA) 20–100 metric tons (Russia)

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 20,000 to 50,000 kg (44,000 to 110,000 lb) (by NASA classification) or between 20,000 to 100,000 kilograms (44,000 to 220,000 lb) (by Russian classification)^[1] into low Earth orbit (LEO).^[2] As of 2024^[update], operational heavy-lift launch vehicles include the Long March 5 and the Proton-M.^[3]

In addition, the Angara A5, the Falcon 9 Full Thrust, the Falcon Heavy, the Vulcan Centaur, and Ariane 6 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.