launch vehicle

noun

: a rocket used to launch a satellite or spacecraft

Examples of launch vehicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Towering about 320 feet tall, the launch vehicle is advertised as lifting as much as 45,000 kilograms (or over 99,000 pounds) to low Earth orbit — double that of SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 rocket. Michael Sheetz, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2024 This was the first mission failure for a Falcon 9 rocket in 335 missions since 2016, a record unmatched in the history of space launch vehicles. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 30 Sep. 2024 Most of the funding will go toward the country's space station and a reusable launch vehicle. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 19 Sep. 2024 Rocket Lab is the only company experimenting with a small reusable booster on its light-class Electron rocket, but officials there are more focused on developing a much larger medium-class partially reusable launch vehicle. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for launch vehicle 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'launch vehicle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of launch vehicle was circa 1960

Dictionary Entries Near launch vehicle

Cite this Entry

“Launch vehicle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/launch%20vehicle. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on launch vehicle

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