Editing Expendable launch system

{{Short description|Launch system that uses a single use launch vehicle}}
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An '''expendable launch system''' (or '''expendable launch vehicle/ELV''') is a [[launch vehicle]] that can be launched only once, after which its components are destroyed during [[reentry]] or impact with Earth, or discarded in space. ELVs typically consist of several [[multistage rocket|rocket stages]] that are discarded sequentially as their fuel is exhausted and the vehicle gains altitude and speed. As of 2024, fewer and fewer [[satellite]]s and [[List of crewed spacecraft|human spacecraft]] are launched on ELVs in favor of [[Reusable launch vehicle|reusable launch vehicles]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Resource |first=K. D. C. |title=The Rise of Reusable Rockets: Transforming the Economics of Space Travel |url=https://www.kdcresource.com/insights-events/the-rise-of-reusable-rockets-transforming-the-economics-of-space-travel/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=KDC Resource |language=en-AU}}</ref> However, there are many instances where a ELV may still have a compelling use case over a reusable vehicle. ELVs are simpler in design than [[reusable launch system]]s and therefore may have a lower production cost. Furthermore, an ELV can use its entire fuel supply to accelerate its payload, offering greater payloads. ELVs are proven technology in widespread use for many decades.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spacetethers.com/elv.html|title=Expendable Launch Vehicles|website=spacetethers.com|access-date=2018-12-31}}</ref>

==Current operators==
===Arianespace===
{{excerpt| Arianespace}}

===China===
{{excerpt|Chinese space program#Launch vehicles|subsections=1}}

===ISRO===
{{main|Indian Space Research Organisation#Launch vehicles}}

[[File:Indian carrier rockets.svg|thumb|300 px|Comparison of Indian carrier rockets. Left to right: [[Satellite Launch Vehicle|SLV]], [[ASLV]], [[PSLV]], [[GSLV]], [[LVM 3]]]]
During the 1960s and 1970s, India initiated its own launch vehicle program in alignment with its geopolitical and economic considerations. In the 1960s–1970s, the country India started with a sounding rocket in the 1960s and 1970s and advanced its research to deliver the Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 and the more advanced [[Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle]] (ASLV), complete with operational supporting infrastructure by the 1990s.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Gupta|first1=S.C.|last2=Suresh|first2=B.N.|last3=Sivan|first3=K.|year=2007|title=Evolution of Indian launch vehicle technologies|url=http://www.currentscience.ac.in/Downloads/article_id_093_12_1697_1714_0.pdf|page=1697|journal=[[Current Science]]|volume=93|issue=12|location=Bangalore|publisher=[[Indian Academy of Sciences]]|access-date=17 March 2021|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806235710/https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Downloads/article_id_093_12_1697_1714_0.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===JAXA===
{{excerpt|JAXA#Launch development|subsections=yes}}

===Roscosmos===
{{excerpt|Roscosmos#Rockets}}

===South Korea===
{{excerpt|South Korean space program#KSLV}}

===United States===
{{Main| Space Launch System|National Security Space Launch}}
Several governmental agencies of the United States purchase ELV launches. [[NASA]] is a major customer with the [[Commercial Resupply Services]] and [[Commercial Crew Development]] programs, also launching scientific spacecraft. The vast majority of launch vehicles for its missions, from the [[Redstone missile]] to the [[Delta (rocket family)|Delta]], [[Atlas (rocket family)|Atlas]], [[Titan (rocket family)|Titan]] and [[Saturn (rocket family)|Saturn]] rocket families, have been expendable. As its flagship crewed exploration replacement for the partially reusable [[Space Shuttle]], NASA's newest ELV, the [[Space Launch System]] flew successfully in November 2022 after delays of more than six years. It is planned to serve in a major role on crewed exploration programs going forward.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gebhardt |first=Chris |last2=Burghardt |first2=Thomas |date=2022-11-16 |title=SLS makes successful debut flight, sending Artemis I to the Moon |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/11/artemis-i-launch-nov/ |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="nasa-blog-20221108">{{cite web |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2022/11/08/nasa-prepares-rocket-spacecraft-ahead-of-tropical-storm-nicole-re-targets-launch/ |title=NASA Prepares Rocket, Spacecraft Ahead of Tropical Storm Nicole, Re-targets Launch |work=[[NASA]] |date=8 November 2022 |access-date=8 November 2022}}</ref>

The [[United States Air Force]] is also an ELV customer, having designed the Titan, Atlas, and Delta families. The [[Atlas V]] from the 1994 Evolved ELV (EELV) program remains in active service, operated by [[United Launch Alliance]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=16790 |title=Boeing, Lockheed Martin to Form Launch Services Joint Venture {{!}} SpaceRef - Your Space Reference |access-date=2006-02-28 |archive-date=2012-12-09 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209234346/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=16790 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[National Security Space Launch]] (NSSL) competition has selected two EELV successors, the expendable [[Vulcan Centaur]] and partially reusable [[Falcon 9]], to provide assured access to space.<ref name=sn20200807>{{cite news |url=https://spacenews.com/pentagon-picks-spacex-and-ula-to-launch-national-security-satellites-for-next-five-years/ |last=Erwin|first=Sandra |title=Pentagon picks SpaceX and ULA to remain its primary launch providers |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=7 August 2020 |access-date=24 August 2022}}</ref>

===Iranian Space Agency===
{{main|Safir (rocket)|Simorgh (rocket)}}

==== Safir ====
{{excerpt|Iranian Space Agency#Safir SLV}}

==== Simorgh ====
{{excerpt|Iranian Space Agency#Simorgh SLV}}

==== Qoqnoos ====
{{excerpt|Iranian Space Agency#Qoqnoos SLV}}

=== Israel Space Agency ===
{{excerpt|Israel Space Agency#Launch capabilities}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [[Comparison of orbital launch systems]]
* [[Comparison of orbital launchers families]]
* [[Launch vehicle]]
* [[Lists of rockets]]
* [[Spacecraft propulsion]]
* [[Spaceflight]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.ulalaunch.com ULA website]
* [http://www.arianespace.com Arianespace website]
* [http://www.esa.int ESA website]
* [http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/index.html Mitsubishi Heavy Industries website]

{{Expendable launch systems}}
{{Spaceflight}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Expendable Launch System}}
[[Category:Expendable space launch systems|*]]