# reusable launch vehicle

> space launch vehicle designed to be partially or fully reused

**Wikidata**: [Q30128](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30128)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reusable_launch_vehicle)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/reusable-launch-vehicle

## Summary  
A reusable launch vehicle (RLV) is a space launch system that is designed to be partially or fully recovered and flown again, rather than being discarded after a single use. By enabling multiple flights, RLVs aim to lower launch costs and increase the sustainability of space operations.

## Key Facts  
- **Definition** – An RLV is a “space launch vehicle designed to be partially or fully reused” (Wikidata description).  
- **Classification** – Subclass of both *launch vehicle* and *spacecraft*; opposite of an *expendable launch vehicle*.  
- **Aliases** – Also known as RLV, reusable launch system, Sistema de lanzamiento reusable, système de lancement réutilisable, Wiederverwendbares Raumfahrtsystem, etc.  
- **Authority** – Defined by the National Research Council’s Committee on Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology and Test Program.  
- **Image** – Representative photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/CRS-8_(26239020092).jpg (shows a reusable booster).  
- **Identifiers** – GND ID 4177055‑9; BabelNet ID 02721449n; Freebase ID /m/01xhvp; Library of Congress ID sh85113404.  
- **Notable Examples** – SpaceX *Starship* (super‑heavy‑lift, inception ≈ 2005), *Falcon 9* (partially reusable), Blue Origin *New Glenn* and *New Shepard*, NASA *Space Shuttle* (partially reusable, 1981‑2011).  
- **Sitelink Count** – 24 language editions on Wikipedia (e.g., en, de, es, zh).  

## FAQs  
### Q: What makes a launch vehicle “reusable”?  
A: It incorporates design features that allow one or more of its stages, boosters, or the entire vehicle to be recovered, refurbished, and flown again, instead of being discarded after a single launch.  

### Q: How does a reusable launch vehicle differ from an expendable launch vehicle?  
A: An expendable launch vehicle is used only once; all hardware is lost after launch. An RLV is built to survive recovery and subsequent flights, reducing material waste and launch cost.  

### Q: Which rockets are currently reusable?  
A: Current reusable systems include SpaceX’s *Falcon 9* (first‑stage booster recovery), *Starship* (full‑vehicle reuse), Blue Origin’s *New Shepard* and *New Glenn*, and NASA’s historic *Space Shuttle* (partially reusable).  

## Why It Matters  
Reusable launch vehicles represent a paradigm shift in how humanity accesses space. Traditional expendable rockets require new hardware for each flight, driving up costs and generating significant debris. By recovering and refurbishing components—often the most expensive parts such as engines and boosters—RLVs dramatically lower the price per kilogram of payload, making routine satellite deployment, scientific missions, and crewed flights more affordable. This cost reduction expands commercial opportunities, accelerates the development of large‑scale projects like lunar bases and Mars colonization, and supports a more sustainable orbital environment by reducing waste. Moreover, the engineering advances required for rapid turnaround (e.g., autonomous landing, rapid refurbishment, durable thermal protection) push forward broader aerospace technology, benefitting both government and private sector space endeavors.  

## Notable For  
- **First Partially Reusable System** – NASA’s *Space Shuttle* (operational 1981‑2011) pioneered reusability of a winged orbital vehicle.  
- **First Partially Reusable Orbital Rocket** – SpaceX’s *Falcon 9* introduced routine first‑stage booster landings and refurbishments.  
- **First Fully Reusable Super‑Heavy‑Lift Vehicle** – SpaceX’s *Starship* (conceptualized before 2005) aims to recover both booster and spacecraft for rapid reuse.  
- **International Diversity** – Reusable concepts span multiple nations, from the Ukrainian *Sura* to China’s planned *Long March 12A/B* and India’s *Pushpak* demonstrator.  
- **Commercial Impact** – Companies like Blue Origin (*New Glenn*, *New Shepard*), Relativity Space (*Terran R*), and Rocket Lab (*Neutron*) are developing RLVs, indicating a market shift toward reusable architectures.  

## Body  

### Definition and Classification  
Reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) are launch systems engineered to survive at least one recovery and subsequent flight. In ontologies, they are subclasses of both **launch vehicle** and **spacecraft**, directly contrasting with **expendable launch vehicles**.  

### Historical Development  
- **Early Concepts** – The 1991 McDonnell Douglas DC‑X prototype demonstrated single‑stage‑to‑orbit (SSTO) reusability.  
- **Space Shuttle Era** – NASA’s *Space Shuttle* (1981‑2011) achieved partial reusability with a reusable orbiter and solid rocket boosters.  
- **Modern Era** – SpaceX’s *Falcon 9* (first successful booster landing 2015) proved commercial viability. *Starship* (conceptualized before 2005) pushes toward full vehicle reuse.  

### Technical Features  
- **Recovery Systems** – Propulsive landing (e.g., *Falcon 9*), parachutes and splash‑down (*New Shepard*), or runway landing (*Space Shuttle*).  
- **Thermal Protection** – Reusable heat shields (e.g., SpaceX’s *PICA* tiles) enable multiple re‑entries.  
- **Refurbishment Cycle** – Designed for rapid turnaround; some boosters target < 10‑day refurbishment.  

### Notable Examples (selected)  
| Vehicle | Reusability Level | Country/Org | First Flight |
|---------|-------------------|-------------|--------------|
| *Space Shuttle* | Partially reusable (orbiter, boosters) | USA / NASA | 1981 |
| *Falcon 9* | Partially reusable (first stage) | USA / SpaceX | 2010 |
| *Starship* | Fully reusable (both stages) | USA / SpaceX | TBD (prototype 2020) |
| *New Glenn* | Partially reusable (first stage) | USA / Blue Origin | 2021 |
| *New Shepard* | Fully reusable suborbital | USA / Blue Origin | 2015 |
| *Terran R* | Partially reusable (first stage) | USA / Relativity Space | In development |
| *Long March 12A/B* | Planned reusable medium‑lift | China | Planned |

### Related Concepts  
- **Reusable Launch System** – Synonymous term; often used interchangeably.  
- **Reusable Spacecraft** – Vehicles like *Starship* that combine launch and spacecraft functions.  
- **Expendable Launch Vehicle** – The traditional counterpart, discarded after one use.  

### Future Outlook  
Continued investment in RLVs is expected to drive down launch costs below \$10 kg⁻¹, enable high‑frequency launch cadence, and support ambitious missions such as lunar landers, Mars cargo transport, and large‑scale satellite constellations.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Reusable launch vehicle",
  "description": "Space launch vehicle designed to be partially or fully reused.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reusable_launch_vehicle",
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q???"
  ],
  "additionalType": "LaunchVehicle"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. BabelNet
3. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File