Retired orbital launch vehicles have been instrumental in the history of space exploration, enabling the deployment of satellites, scientific instruments, and crewed missions. Representing decades of technological progress, these systems reflect the contributions of various nations, including the United States, Soviet Union, members of the European Space Agency (ESA), China, India, and Japan. The specifications, achievements, and legacy of these vehicles illustrate the foundations upon which modern space launch technologies have been built.
Retired rockets
VehicleOriginManufacturerHeightMass to ... (kg)ReuseLaunches(+ suborbital)Launch SitesDate of flightLEOGTOOtherFirstLastAntares 110–130Orbital40.5-41.9 m to SSONo MARS20132014Antares 230 / 230+Northrop Grumman42.5 m to SSONo13 MARS20162023Ariane 1Aérospatiale49.1 mNo CSG19791986Ariane 2Aérospatiale49.1 mNo CSG19861989Ariane 3Aérospatiale49.1 mNo CSG19841989Ariane 4 40Aérospatiale58.7 m to SSONo CSG19901999Ariane 4 42LAérospatiale58.7 m to SSONo CSG19932002Ariane 4 42PAérospatiale58.7 m to SSONo CSG19902002Ariane 4 44LAérospatiale58.7 m to SSONo CSG19892003Ariane 4 44LPAérospatiale58.7 m to SSONo CSG19882001Ariane 4 44PAérospatiale58.7 m to SSONo CSG19912001Ariane 5 GEADS Astrium47.5 mNo CSG19962003Ariane 5 G+EADS Astrium47.8 mNo CSG20042004Ariane 5 GSEADS Astrium47.8 mNo CSG20052009Ariane 5 ESEADS Astrium50.7 mNo CSG20082018Ariane 5 ECAEADS Astrium52.6 mNo CSG20022023ASLVISRO23.5 mNo SDSC19871994Athena I LLV-1Lockheed Martin18.4 m500No1 VAFB19951995Athena ILockheed Martin18.9 mNo3 VAFB, CCSFS, KLC19972001Athena IILockheed Martin28.2 mNo VAFB, CCSFS19981999Atlas-AbleGeneral Dynamics28 m~175 to TLINo3 CCSFS19591960Atlas-AgenaConvair/General Dynamics36 m1,000390 to TLINo109VAFB, CCSFS19601978Atlas-CentaurLockheed36.2-38.8 mNo CCSFS19621983Atlas BLockheed Martin24.9 m~4,000No10 CCSFS19581959Atlas-D OV1Convair/General Dynamics25.9 m1,400No7 VAFB19651967Atlas E/F-AgenaConvair/General Dynamics/Lockheed34 m1,000390 to TLINo1 VAFB19781978Atlas E/F-Altair-3AConvair/General Dynamics27.3 m210No1 VAFB19901990Atlas E/F-Burner-2Convair/General Dynamics28.9 m950No1 VAFB19721972Atlas E/F-MSDConvair/General Dynamics27.3 m800No4 VAFB19761980Atlas E/F-OISConvair/General Dynamics28.7 m870No2 VAFB19791985Atlas E/F-OV1Convair/General Dynamics26.5 m363No4 VAFB19681971Atlas E/F-PTSConvair/General Dynamics26.5 m295No1 VAFB19741974Atlas E/F-SGS-1Convair/General Dynamics29 m450No8 VAFB19771981Atlas E/F-SGS-2Convair/General Dynamics29 m770No4 VAFB19831985Atlas E/F-Star-17AConvair/General Dynamics27.4 mN/A800 to MPEONo1 VAFB19751975Atlas E/F-Star-37SConvair/General Dynamics29 mN/A1,100 to SSONo19 VAFB19781995Atlas-F Agena-DConvair/General Dynamics34 mN/A2,300 to PolarNo1 VAFB19781978Atlas GLockheed43.9 m to HCONo CCSFS19841989Atlas H MSDLockheed27 mastronautix.com, Atlas H No VAFB19831987Atlas LV-3BConvair28.7 m1,360No9 CCSFS19601963Atlas SLV-3Convair33.3 mNo63 VAFB, CCSFS19661983Atlas SLV-3 Burner-2Convair30.3 m~1,000No1 VAFB19681968Atlas ILockheed Martin43.9 mNo CCSFS19901997Atlas IILockheed Martin47.5 m to HCONo VAFB, CCSFS19911998Atlas IIALockheed Martin47.5 m to HCONo VAFB, CCSFS19922002Atlas IIASLockheed Martin49 m to HCONo VAFB, CCSFS19932004Atlas IIIALockheed Martin52.5 m to HCONo CCSFS20002004Atlas IIIB/DECLockheed Martin53.7 mNo CCSFS20022002Atlas IIIB/SECLockheed Martin54.7 mastronautix.com, Atlas IIIB No CCSFS20032005Atlas V 401ULA57.3 m to SSONo VAFB, CCSFS20022022Atlas V 411ULA58.2 m to SSONo VAFB, CCSFS20062020Atlas V 421ULA59.1 m to SSONo VAFB, CCSFS20072022Atlas V 431ULA59.1 m to SSONo VAFB, CCSFS20052016Atlas V 501ULA62.5 mNo VAFB, CCSFS20102023Atlas V 511ULA62.5 m to SSO 1,750 to GEONo VAFB, CCSFS20222022Atlas V 521ULA59.7 m to SSO 2,760 to GEONo VAFB, CCSFS20032004Atlas V 531ULA59.7 m to SSO 3,250 to GEONo VAFB, CCSFS20102022Atlas V 541ULA59.7 m to SSO 3,730 to GEONo VAFB, CCSFS20112022Black ArrowRAE13 mEncyclopedia Astronautica, Black Arrow No (+2) WRC19691971Blue Scout IIVought24 m30No3 CCSFS19611961Ceres-1 (1)Galactic Energy18.5 m350No1 JSLC20202020Ceres-1 (2)Galactic Energy19.5 m400No1 JSLC20212021Commercial Titan IIIMartin Marietta47.3 mastronautix.com, Titan III No CCSFS19901992Conestoga 1620Space Services15.2 m1179No1 MARS19951995Diamant ASEREB18.9 m80No4 CIEES19651967Diamant BSEREB23.5 m115No5 CSG19701973Diamant BP4SEREB21.6 m153No3 CSG19751975Delta 030034 m to SSONo VAFB19721973Delta 0900McDonnell Douglas34 m to SSONo VAFB19721972Delta 1410McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo VAFB19751975Delta 1604McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo CCSFS19721973Delta 1900McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo VAFB19731973Delta 1910McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo CCSFS19751975Delta 1913McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo CCSFS19731973Delta 1914McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo CCSFS19721973Delta 2310McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo VAFB, CCSFS19741981Delta 2313McDonnell Douglas35.2 m to GEONo VAFB, CCSFS19741977Delta 2910McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo VAFB, CCSFS19751978Delta 2913McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo VAFB, CCSFS19751976Delta 2914McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo VAFB, CCSFS19741979Delta 3910McDonnell Douglas35.2 m with PAM-DNo VAFB, CCSFS19801988Delta 3913McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo VAFB, CCSFS19811981Delta 3914McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo VAFB, CCSFS19751987Delta 3920McDonnell Douglas35.2 m with PAM-DNo VAFB, CCSFS19821989Delta 3924McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo VAFB, CCSFS19821984Delta 4925McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo VAFB, CCSFS19891990Delta 5920McDonnell Douglas35.2 mNo VAFB19891989Delta II 6920McDonnell Douglas38.8 mNo VAFB, CCSFS19901992Delta II 6925McDonnell Douglas39.4 m1,447No VAFB, CCSFS19891992Delta II 7320Boeing IDS / ULA38.9 m to SSONo VAFB, CCSFS19992015Delta II 7326Boeing IDS38.4 m to TLI 629 to HCONo VAFB, CCSFS19982001Delta II 7420ULA39 m to SSONo VAFB, CCSFS19982018Delta II 7425Boeing IDS39 m to HCONo VAFB, CCSFS19982002Delta II 7426Boeing IDS39 m to TLI 711 to HCONo VAFB, CCSFS19991999Delta II 7920Boeing IDS / ULA39.4 m to SSONo VAFB, CCSFS19982017Delta II 7925Boeing IDS / ULA39.4 m to TLI 1,265 to HCONo VAFB, CCSFS19902009Delta II-H 7920HBoeing IDS / ULA39 mNo VAFB, CCSFS20032011Delta II-H 7925HBoeing IDS / ULA39.8 m to HCONo VAFB, CCSFS20032007Delta III 8930Boeing IDS39 mNo CCSFS19982000Delta IV HeavyULA72 m to polar to TLI to TMINoVAFB, CCSFS20042024Delta IV MBoeing IDS61.3 m to polarNo VAFB, CCSFS20032006Delta IV M+(4,2)ULA61.3 m to polarNo VAFB, CCSFS20022019Delta IV M+(5,2)ULA65.5 m to polarNo VAFB, CCSFS20122018Delta IV M+(5,4)ULA65.5 m to polarNo VAFB, CCSFS20092019DneprYuzhmash34.3 mNoBaikonur, Yasny19992015EnergiaNPO Energia58.8 m105,000 to GEO 32,000 to TLINo (failed to orbit) Baikonur19871987Energia-BuranNPO Energia NPO Molniya58.8 mYes Baikonur19881988EpsilonIHI24.4 m1,200N/A450 to SSONo1 KSC20132022Epsilon (enhanced)IHI26 mN/A to SSONo KSCEuropa IELDO31.7 m1,440200No3 WRC19681970Europa IIELDO31.7 m360No1 CSG19711971Falcon 1SpaceX21 mNo Omelek20062009Falcon 9 v1.0SpaceX54.9 m9,0003,400No5 CCSFS20102013Falcon 9 v1.1SpaceX68.4 mNo VAFB, CCSFS20132016SpaceX70.8 m17,4005,500 to polarYes36 VAFB, CCSFS, KSC20152018NoFeng Bao 1Shanghai Bureau No.233 mFeng Bao 1, part of CZ familyNo (+3) JSLC19721981GSLV Mk.I(a)ISRO49.1 mNo SDSC20012001GSLV Mk.I(b)ISRO49.1 mNo SDSC20032007GSLV Mk.I(c)ISRO49.1 mNo SDSC20102010H-IMitsubishi42 mNo TNSC19861992H-II / IISMitsubishi49 mastronautix.com, H-2 No TNSC19941999H-IIA 202Mitsubishi53 m to SSONo TNSC20012025H-IIA 204Mitsubishi53 m15,000No TNSC20062021H-IIA 2022Mitsubishi53 mNo TNSC20052007H-IIA 2024Mitsubishi57 mastronautix.com H-IIA 2024 No TNSC20022008H-IIBMitsubishi56.6 m (ISS)No TNSC20092020Hyperbola-1 (1)i-Space20.9 m260No1 JSLC20192019Juno IChrysler21.2 m11No1 CCSFS19581959Juno IIChrysler24 m416 to TLINo10 CCSFS19581961Kaituozhe-1CALT13.6 m40No JSLC20022003Kaituozhe-2CASC16.8 mNo JSLC20172017KosmosNPO Polyot29.6 m350No38 Kapustin Yar19611967Kosmos-1NPO Polyot26.3 m1,400No8 Baikonur19641965Kosmos-2NPO Polyot31 m300No127 Kapustin Yar, Plesetsk19651977Kosmos-3NPO Polyot32.4 m1,400No6 Baikonur19661968Kosmos-3MNPO Polyot32.4 mNo445 Kapustin Yar, Plesetsk19672010Kosmos-3MRBNPO Polyot32.4 m1,500No10 Kapustin Yar19801988Lambda 4SNissan Motors16.5 mNo KSC19661970LauncherOneVirgin Orbit21.3 m500300 to SSONo6 Mojave, Cornwall20202023Long March 1CALT29.9 mastronautix.com, Long March 1, also called CZ-1No JSLC19701971Long March 1DCALT28.2 mastronautix.com, Long March 1D (CZ-1D) No (+3) TSLC19952002CALT32 mastronautix.com Long March 2A – CZ-2A No JSLC19741978Long March 2ECALT49.7 mNo XSLC19901995Long March 3CALT43.3 mNo XSLC19842000Long March 3BCALT54.8 m to SSONo XSLC19962012Long March 4ACALT41.9 mNo TSLC19881990M-V (1997–2000) (2000–2006)30.8 mNo KSC19972006MolniyaRSC Energia43.4 mastronautix.com, Encyclopedia Astronautica, Molniya 8K78M No Baikonur, Plesetsk19601967Molniya-MRSC Energia43.4 mNo Baikonur, Plesetsk19652010Mu-4SNissan Motors23.6 mNo KSC19711972Mu-3CNissan Motors20.3 mNo KSC19741979Mu-3HNissan Motors23.8 mNo KSC19771978Mu-3SNissan Motors23.8 mNo KSC19801984Mu-3SIINissan Motors27.8 mNo KSC19851995N1NPO Energia105.3 mNo Baikonur19691972N-IMitsubishi34 mastronautix.com, N-I- Delta No TNSC19751982N-IIMitsubishi35 mastronautix.com, Encyclopedia Astronautica, N-2 No TNSC19811987Naro-1KARI Khrunichev33 mNo Naro20092013OS-M1OneSpace19 m to SSONo JSLC20192019Paektusan-1KCST25.8 m20No1 Tonghae19981998PegasusNorthrop Grumman15.4 m455No6 Edwards, CCSFS19901994Pegasus HNorthrop Grumman15.4 m544No4 VAFB, CCSFS, Kwajalein Atoll19952000Pilot IIUnited States Navy4.4 mN/A to MEONo Point Mugu19581958PolyotRSC Energia30 mNo Baikonur19631964Proton (UR-500)Khrunichev39.8 m12,200No4 Baikonur19651966Proton-KKhrunichev50 mEncyclopedia Astronautica, Proton-K NoBaikonur19652012PSLV-GISRO44 m to SSONo SDSC19932016Rocket 3.0Astra11.6 mNo1 KLC20202020Rocket 3.1Astra11.6 mNo1 KLC20202020Rocket 3.2Astra11.6 mNo1 KLC20202020Rocket 3.3Astra13.1 m to SSONo5 CCSFS, KLC20212022Rokot-KKhrunichev25.5 mNo4 Baikonur, Plesetsk19901999Rokot-KMKhrunichev29.1 m to SSONo31 Plesetsk20002019RS1 B1ABL Space Systems27 m to SSO to MEONo1 KLC20232023Safir-1Iranian Space Agency22.6 m27No2 Semnan20082009Safir-1AIranian Space Agency22.6 m15No1 Semnan20112011Safir-1BIranian Space Agency22.6 m50No1 Semnan20122012Safir-1B+Iranian Space Agency22.6 m52No5 Semnan20122019Saturn IChrysler (S-I) Douglas (S-IV)50-57.4 mastronautix.com, Saturn I No CCSFS19611965Saturn IBChrysler (S-IB) Douglas (S-IVB)56.1-68.1 mEncyclopedia Astronautica, Saturn IB No CCSFS, KSC19661975Saturn VBoeing (S-IC) North American (S-II) Douglas (S-IVB)110.6 m to TLINo KSC19671973Scout X-1Vought21.8 m59No4 WFF19601961Scout X-2Vought21.8 m76No1 VAFB, WFF19621962Scout X-2MVought21.8 m76No3 VAFB19621963Scout X-2BVought21.8 m76No1 VAFB19631963Scout X-3Vought21.8 m87No5 VAFB, WFF19621964Scout X-3MVought21.8 m87No1 VAFB19631963Scout X-4Vought22.8 m103No11 VAFB, WFF19631965Scout ANASA22.8 m110No11 VAFB19651970Scout A-1NASA22.8 m122No1 VAFB19731973Scout BNASA22.8 m110No20 BSC, VAFB, WFF19651971Scout B-1NASA22.8 m143No5 BSC, VAFB, WFF19711976Scout D-1NASA22.9 m182No14 BSC, VAFB, WFF19721979Scout E-1NASA22.8 m193No1 VAFB19741974Scout F-1NASA22.9 m192No2 BSC, VAFB19751975Scout G-1NASA22.9 m208No18 BSC, VAFB, WFF19791994Shavit IsraelIAI17.7 m160No2 Palmachim19881990Shavit-1 IsraelIAI19.7 m225No4 Palmachim19952004Shtil-1Makeyev14.8 m 280–420No Novomoskovsk, Ekaterinburg19982006SLV-3ISRO22 mNo SDSC19791983SoyuzRSC Energia45.6 mNo Baikonur19661976Soyuz-FGTsSKB-Progress49.5 mNoBaikonur20012019Soyuz-LRSC Energia50 mNo Baikonur19701971Soyuz-MRSC Energia50 mNo Baikonur19711976Soyuz ST-ATsSKB-Progress Arianespace46.3 m from Kourou with FregatNo CSG20112021Soyuz ST-BTsSKB-Progress Arianespace46.3 m from Kourou with Fregat to SSONo CSG20112022Soyuz-UTsSKB-Progress51.1 m from Baikonour from PlesetskNo Baikonur, Plesetsk19732017Soyuz-U2TsSKB-Progress34.5 mNoBaikonur19821995Space ShuttleATK (SRBs)