launch vehicle

noun

: a rocket used to launch a satellite or spacecraft

Examples of launch vehicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chinese commercial firm Galactic Energy is ready for a first orbital launch attempt with its Pallas-1 liquid propellant launch vehicle, Space News reports. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

The design, classifying Falcon Heavy as a super-heavy launch vehicle, means the rocket is capable of transporting much bigger payloads to orbit. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Russia's Soyuz rocket, which has been in operation since 1957, is the only launch vehicle with more missions under its belt, but the Falcon 9 is on track to pass it next year. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026

But the company has moved its focus to the R-2, a medium-lift reusable launch vehicle powered by seven of the company’s E-1 methalox engines. — IEEE Spectrum, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1960, in the meaning defined above