launch vehicle

noun

: a rocket used to launch a satellite or spacecraft

Examples of launch vehicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The other was the third flight of Kairos, a small launch vehicle developed by Space One, on March 4. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 17 July 2026

SpaceX's Starship megarocket — the biggest and most powerful launch vehicle ever built — is slated to make its 13th test flight a few hours later. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 July 2026

Starship, the commercial spaceflight company's super heavy-lift launch vehicle, is due to get off the ground in South Texas on the heels of a largely successful May flight test. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 15 July 2026

Missiles and launch vehicles can remain concealed until they are needed, limiting the time during which they are exposed to satellites, aircraft, and drones. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1960, in the meaning defined above