Editing Reusable launch vehicle

{{Short description|Vehicles that can go to space and return}}
[[File:Falcon 9 first stage at LZ-1(two).jpg|alt=Booster hooked up on a crane|thumb|300x300px|Recovery of [[Falcon 9]] first-stage booster after its [[Falcon 9 flight 20|first landing]]]]
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A '''reusable launch vehicle''' has parts that can be recovered and reflown, while carrying [[payload]]s from the surface to [[outer space]]. [[Rocket stage]]s are the most common [[launch vehicle]] parts aimed for reuse. Smaller parts such as [[payload fairing|fairings]], [[Booster (rocketry)|boosters]] or [[rocket engine]]s can also be reused, though [[reusable spacecraft]] may be launched on top of an expendable launch vehicle. Reusable launch vehicles do not need to make these parts for each launch, therefore reducing its [[launch cost]] significantly. However, these benefits are diminished by the cost of recovery and refurbishment.

Reusable launch vehicles may contain additional [[avionics]] and [[propellant]], making them heavier than their expendable counterparts. Reused parts may need to [[Atmospheric entry|enter the atmosphere]] and navigate through it, so they are often equipped with [[heat shield]]s, [[grid fin]]s, and other [[flight control surfaces]]. By modifying their shape, [[spaceplane]]s can leverage [[aviation]] mechanics to aid in its recovery, such as [[gliding]] or [[Lift (force)|lift]]. In the atmosphere, [[parachute]]s or [[retrorocket]]s may also be needed to slow it down further. Reusable parts may also need specialized recovery facilities such as [[runway]]s or [[autonomous spaceport drone ship]]s. Some concepts rely on ground infrastructures such as [[mass driver]]s to accelerate the launch vehicle beforehand.

Since at least in the early 20th century, [[single-stage-to-orbit]] reusable launch vehicles have existed in [[science fiction]]. In the 1970s, the first reusable launch vehicle, the [[Space Shuttle]], was developed. However, in the 1990s, due to the program's failure to meet expectations, reusable launch vehicle concepts were reduced to prototype testing. The rise of [[private spaceflight]] companies in the 2000s and 2010s lead to a resurgence of their development, such as in [[SpaceShipOne]], [[New Shepard]], [[Rocket Lab Electron|Electron]], [[Falcon 9]], and [[Falcon Heavy]]. Many launch vehicles are now expected to debut with reusability in the 2020s, such as [[SpaceX Starship|Starship]], [[New Glenn]], [[Rocket Lab Neutron|Neutron]], [[Soyuz-7 (rocket family)|Soyuz-7]], [[Ariane Next]], [[Long March (rocket family)|Long March]], [[Terran R]], [[Stoke Space Nova]], and the Dawn Mk-II Aurora.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dawn Aerospace unveils the Mk II Aurora suborbital space plane, capable of multiple same-day flights |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/28/dawn-aerospace-unveils-the-mk-ii-aurora-suborbital-space-plane-capable-of-multiple-same-day-flights/ |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=TechCrunch |date=28 July 2020 |language=en-US }}</ref>

The impact of reusability in launch vehicles has been foundational in the space flight industry. So much so that in 2024, the [[Cape Canaveral Space Force Station]] initiated a 50 year forward looking plan for the Cape that involved major infrastructure upgrades (including to [[Port Canaveral]]) to support a higher anticipated launch cadence and landing sites for the new generation of vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davenport |first=Justin |date=2024-05-09 |title=Space Coast looks toward the future with port and factory expansions |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/05/cape-flyover-may-2024/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Configurations==
Reusable launch systems may be either fully or partially reusable.

=== Fully reusable launch vehicle ===
Several companies are currently developing fully reusable launch vehicles as of January 2025. Each of them is working on a [[two-stage-to-orbit]] system. [[SpaceX]] is testing [[SpaceX Starship|Starship]], which has been in development since 2016 and has made [[Starship flight test 1|an initial test flight]] in April 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |last2=Strickland |first2=Ashley |date=2023-04-20 |title=SpaceX's Starship rocket lifts off for inaugural test flight but explodes midair |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/20/world/spacex-starship-launch-thursday-scn/index.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> and a total of 9 flights as of May 2025. [[Blue Origin]], with [[Project Jarvis]], began development work by early 2021, but has announced no date for testing and have not discussed the project publicly.<ref name=ars20210727>{{cite news |title=Blue Origin has a secret project named "Jarvis" to compete with SpaceX |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/blue-origin-is-developing-reusable-second-stage-other-advanced-projects/ |last=Berger |first=Eric |work=[[Ars Technica]] |date=27 July 2021 |access-date=31 July 2021 |archive-date=30 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730113522/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/07/blue-origin-is-developing-reusable-second-stage-other-advanced-projects/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Stoke Space]] is also developing a rocket which is planned to be reusable.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-15 |title=STOKE Space Raises $65M Series A to Make Space Access Sustainable and Scalable |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005168/en/STOKE-Space-Raises-65M-Series-A-to-Make-Space-Access-Sustainable-and-Scalable |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sesnic |first=Trevor |last2=Volosín |first2=Juan I. Morales |date=2023-02-04 |title=Full Reusability By Stoke Space |url=https://everydayastronaut.com/stoke-space/ |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=Everyday Astronaut |language=en-US}}</ref>

{{as of|2025|01}}, Starship is the only [[launch vehicle]] intended to be fully reusable that has been fully built and tested. The [[Starship_flight_test_5|fifth test flight]] was on October 13, 2024, in which the vehicle completed a suborbital launch and landed both stages for the second time. The [[SpaceX Super Heavy|Super Heavy]] booster was caught successfully by the "chopstick system" on Orbital Pad A for the first time. The Ship completed its second successful reentry and returned for a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean. The test marked the second instance that could be considered meeting all requirements to be fully reusable.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-06 |title=SpaceX Flies IFT-4, Achieves Super Heavy, Starship Controlled Splashdowns - AmericaSpace |url=https://www.americaspace.com/2024/06/06/spacex-flies-ift-4-achieves-super-heavy-starship-splashdowns/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=www.americaspace.com |language=en-US}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=September 2024|talk=Starship IFT-4 and full re-usability}}

=== Partially reusable launch systems ===
Partial reusable launch systems, in the form of multiple stage to orbit systems have been so far the only reusable configurations in use.

==== Specific component reuse ====
The historic [[Space Shuttle]] reused its [[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster|Solid Rocket Boosters]], its [[RS-25]] engines and the [[Space Shuttle orbiter]] that acted as an orbital insertion stage, but it did not reuse the [[External Tank]] that fed the RS-25 engines. This is an example of a reusable launch system which reuses specific components of rockets. [[United Launch Alliance|ULA’s]] [[Vulcan Centaur]] was originally designed to reuse the first stage engines, while the tank is expended. The engines would splashdown on an inflatable [[aeroshell]], then be recovered. On 23 February 2024, one of the nine Merlin engines a powering a [[Falcon 9 ]] launched for the 22nd time, making it the most reused liquid fuel engine used in an operational manner, having already surpassed [[Space Shuttle Main Engine]] number 2019's record of 19 flights.

==== Liftoff stages ====
As of 2024, [[Falcon 9]] and [[Falcon Heavy]] are the only orbital rockets to reuse their boosters, although multiple other systems are in development. All aircraft-launched rockets reuse the aircraft.

Other than that a range of [[Non-rocket launch|non-rocket liftoff systems]] have been proposed and explored over time as reusable systems for liftoff, from balloons<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Reyes|first1=Tim|title=Balloon launcher Zero2Infinity Sets Its Sights to the Stars|journal=Universe Today|date=October 17, 2014|url=http://www.universetoday.com/115391/balloon-launcher-zero2infinity-sets-its-sights-to-the-stars/|access-date=9 July 2015|archive-date=13 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413123411/http://www.universetoday.com/115391/balloon-launcher-zero2infinity-sets-its-sights-to-the-stars/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{relevance inline|date=October 2020}}<!-- it is unclear about how this space launch technology relates to ''reusable'' launch vehicles.  No work seems to be going on to build/test any "non-rocket spacelaunch" technologies to survive atmospheric reentry and thus become reusable. --> to [[space elevator]]s. Existing examples are systems which employ winged horizontal jet-engine powered liftoff. Such aircraft can [[air launch]] expendable rockets and can because of that be considered partially reusable systems if the aircraft is thought of as the first stage of the launch vehicle. An example of this configuration is the [[Orbital Sciences Pegasus]]. For suborbital flight the [[SpaceShipTwo]] uses for liftoff a carrier plane, its [[mothership]] the [[Scaled Composites White Knight Two]]. Rocket Lab is working on [[Rocket Lab Neutron|Neutron]], and the [[European Space Agency]] is working on [[Themis programme|Themis]]. Both vehicles are planned to recover the first stage.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 December 2020 |title=ESA plans demonstration of a reusable rocket stage |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/ESA_plans_demonstration_of_a_reusable_rocket_stage}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=26 June 2023 |title=Everything you need to know about Themis |url=https://europeanspaceflight.substack.com/p/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ddb}}</ref>

==== Orbital insertion stages ====
So far, most launch systems achieve [[orbital insertion]] with at least partially expended [[multistaged rocket]]s, particularly with the second and third stages. Only the [[Space Shuttle]] has achieved a reuse of the orbital insertion stage, by using the engines and fuel tank of [[Space Shuttle orbiter|its orbiter]]. The [[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran spaceplane]] and [[Starship spacecraft]] are two other reusable spacecraft that were designed to be able to act as orbital insertion stages and have been produced, however the former only made one uncrewed test flight before the project was cancelled, and the latter is not yet operational, having completed [[List of Starship launches|eight suborbital test flights]], as of April 2025, which achieved all of its mission objectives at the fourth flight.

=== Reusable spacecraft ===
{{Main|Reusable spacecraft}}

Launch systems can be combined with reusable spaceplanes or capsules. The [[Space Shuttle orbiter]], [[SpaceShipTwo]], Dawn Mk-II Aurora, and the under-development Indian [[RLV-TD]] are examples for a reusable space vehicle (a [[spaceplane]]) as well as a part of its launch system.

More contemporarily the [[Falcon 9]] launch system has carried reusable vehicles such as the [[Dragon 2]] and [[X-37]].

Contemporary reusable orbital vehicles include the X-37, the [[Dream Chaser]], the Dragon 2, the Indian RLV-TD and the upcoming European [[Space Rider]] (successor to the [[IXV]]).

As with launch vehicles, all pure spacecraft during the early decades of human capacity to achieve spaceflight<!-- late 1950s through early 2010s --> were designed to be single-use items.  This was true both for [[satellite]]s and [[space probes]] intended to be left in space for a long time, as well as any object designed to return to Earth such as [[human spaceflight|human-carrying]] [[space capsule]]s or the sample return canisters of space matter collection missions like [[Stardust (spacecraft)|Stardust]] (1999–2006)<ref name=newscientist20060115>{{cite news |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8586-pinch-of-comet-dust-lands-safely-on-earth/ |title=Pinch of comet dust lands safely on Earth |work=New Scientist |first=Hazel |last=Muir |date=15 January 2006 |access-date=20 January 2018 |archive-date=21 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121184644/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8586-pinch-of-comet-dust-lands-safely-on-earth/ |url-status=live }}</ref> or [[Hayabusa]] (2005–2010).<ref name=indyposted201006>{{Cite web|url=http://indyposted.com/27014/mission-accomplished-for-japans-asteroid-explorer-hayabusa/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616232222/http://indyposted.com/27014/mission-accomplished-for-japans-asteroid-explorer-hayabusa/|url-status=dead|title=Mission Accomplished For Japan's Asteroid Explorer Hayabusa|archivedate=June 16, 2010}}</ref><ref name=sdc20100613>{{cite news |url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/hayabusa-asteroid-probe-landing-preview-100613.html |title=Space Probe, Perhaps with a Chunk of Asteroid, Returns to Earth Sunday |work=[[Space.com]] |date=13 June 2010 |access-date=13 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616062115/http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/hayabusa-asteroid-probe-landing-preview-100613.html |archive-date=16 June 2010 }}</ref>  Exceptions to the general rule for space vehicles were the US [[Gemini SC-2]], the [[Soviet Union]] spacecraft [[VA spacecraft|Vozvraschaemyi Apparat (VA)]], the US [[Space Shuttle orbiter]] (mid-1970s-2011, with 135 flights between 1981 and 2011) and the Soviet [[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]] (1980-1988, with just one uncrewed test flight in 1988).  Both of these spaceships were also an integral part of the launch system (providing launch acceleration) as well as operating as medium-duration spaceships in [[orbital spaceflight|space]].  This began to change in the mid-2010s.

In the 2010s, the [[Commercial Resupply Services|space transport cargo capsule]] from one of the suppliers resupplying the [[International Space Station]] was designed for reuse, and after 2017,<ref name="Dragon_reused">{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/03/cargo-manifest-for-spacexs-11th-resupply-mission-to-the-space-station/|title=Cargo manifest for SpaceX's 11th resupply mission to the space station|publisher=Spaceflight Now|last=Clark|first=Stephen|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809111921/https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/03/cargo-manifest-for-spacexs-11th-resupply-mission-to-the-space-station/|url-status=live}}</ref> NASA began to allow the reuse of the SpaceX [[Dragon 1|Dragon cargo spacecraft]] on these NASA-contracted transport routes. This was the beginning of design and operation of a '''reusable space vehicle'''<!-- bolded per [[WP:MOSBOLD]] as a redirect target -->.

The [[Boeing Starliner]] capsules also reduce their fall speed with parachutes and deploy an airbag shortly before touchdown on the ground, in order to retrieve and reuse the vehicle.

{{as of|2021}}, SpaceX is building and testing the [[SpaceX Starship|Starship]] spaceship to be capable of surviving multiple [[hypersonic]] [[atmospheric reentry|reentries through the atmosphere]] so that they become truly reusable long-duration spaceships; no Starship operational flights have yet occurred.

==Entry systems==
{{Main|Atmospheric entry}}
{{See also|Air brake (aeronautics)|Aerobraking|Aeroshell|Gravity turn|Orbital injection}}

=== Heat shield ===
{{See also|Atmospheric entry#Thermal protection systems}}
With possible inflatable [[Heat shield#Spacecraft|heat shield]]s, as developed by the US (Low Earth Orbit Flight Test Inflatable Decelerator - LOFTID)<ref name="noaa-20190703">{{cite web |last=Marder |first=Jenny |url=https://www.jpss.noaa.gov/news.html?122 |title=Inflatable Decelerator Will Hitch a Ride on the JPSS-2 Satellite |publisher=[[NOAA]] |date=3 July 2019 |access-date=30 October 2019}}</ref> and China,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/2020-05/05/c_1125945037.htm|title="胖五"家族迎新 送新一代载人飞船试验船升空——长征五号B运载火箭首飞三大看点 (LM5 Family in focus: next generation crewed spacecraft and other highlight of the Long March 5B maiden flight)|language=zh|website=Xinhua News|author=Xinhua Editorial Board|date=5 May 2020|access-date=29 October 2020|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807093711/http://www.xinhuanet.com/2020-05/05/c_1125945037.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> single-use rockets like the [[Space Launch System]] are considered to be retrofitted with such heat shields to salvage the expensive engines, possibly reducing the costs of launches significantly.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://westeastspace.com/2020/05/07/is-chinas-inflatable-space-tech-a-400-million-cost-savings-for-nasas-sls/ |date=7 May 2020 |access-date=29 October 2020 |website=westeastspace.com |author=Bill D'Zio |title=Is China's inflatable space tech a $400 Million Cost savings for NASA's SLS? |archive-date=10 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200510233336/https://westeastspace.com/2020/05/07/is-chinas-inflatable-space-tech-a-400-million-cost-savings-for-nasas-sls/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Heat shields allow an orbiting spacecraft to land safely without expending very much fuel. They need not take the form of inflatable heat shields, they may simply take the form of heat-resistant tiles that prevent [[heat conduction]]. Heat shields are also proposed for use in combination with retrograde thrust to allow for full reusability as seen in [[SpaceX Starship (spacecraft)|Starship]].

=== Retrograde thrust ===
{{Main||Retrorocket|Thrust reversal}}
Reusable launch system stages such as the [[Falcon 9]] and the [[New Shepard]] employ retrograde burns for re-entry, and landing.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

==Landing systems==
Reusable systems can come in [[Single-stage-to-orbit|single]] or multiple 
([[two-stage-to-orbit|two]] or [[Three-stage-to-orbit|three]]) stages to orbit configurations. For some or all stages the following landing system types can be employed.

===Types===
====Parachutes and airbags====
{{Main|Splashdown|Airbag#Spacecraft airbag landing systems|Parachute}}
{{See also|Water landing}}
These are landing systems that employ parachutes and bolstered hard landings, like in a [[splashdown]] at sea or a touchdown at land. The latter may require an engine burn just before landing as parachutes alone cannot slow the craft down enough to prevent injury to astronauts. This can be seen in the Soyuz capsule.

Though such systems have been in use since the beginning of [[astronautics]] to recover space vehicles, only later have the vehicles been reused.

E.g.:
*[[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters]]
*[[SpaceX Dragon|SpaceX Dragon capsule]]

====Horizontal (winged)====
{{Main|Spaceplane}}
Single or main stages, as well as [[fly-back booster]]s can employ a horizontal landing system. These vehicles land on earth much like a plane does, but they usually do not use propellant during landing.

Examples are:
*[[Space Shuttle orbiter]] - as part of the main stage
*[[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran spaceplane]] - acted as an orbital insertion stage, however [[Polyus (spacecraft)|Polyus]] could also be used as a second stage for the [[Energia (rocket)|Energia]] launch vehicle.
*[[Venturestar]] - a project of [[NASA]]
*[[Studied Space Shuttle designs#Liquid Fly-back Booster|Space Shuttle's studied fly-back booster]]
*[[Energia (rocket)|Energia II ("Uragan")]] - an alternative [[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]] launch system concept
*[[OK-GLI]] - another [[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]] spacecraft version
*[[Liquid Fly-back Booster]] - a German concept
*[[Baikal (rocket booster)|Baikal]] - a former Russian project
*[[Reusable Booster System]] - a U.S. research project 
*[[SpaceShipTwo]] - a [[spaceplane]] for [[space tourism]] made by [[Virgin Galactic]] 
*[[SpaceShipThree]] - a [[spaceplane]] under development for [[space tourism]] made by [[Virgin Galactic]] 
*Dawn Mk-II Aurora - a [[spaceplane]] under development by [[Dawn Aerospace]] 
*[[XS-1 (spacecraft)|XS-1]] - another U.S. research project
*[[RLV-TD]] - an ongoing Indian project
*[[Reaction Engines]] [[Skylon (spacecraft)|Skylon]] [[SSTO]]
A variant is an in-air-capture tow back system, advocated by a company called EMBENTION with its FALCon project.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.embention.com/project/falcon-project/ |access-date=29 October 2020 |title=FALCon |website=embention.com |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027121718/https://www.embention.com/project/falcon-project/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Vehicles that land horizontally on a runway require wings and undercarriage. These typically consume about 9-12% of the landing vehicle mass,{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} which either reduces the payload or increases the size of the vehicle. Concepts such as [[lifting bodies]] offer some reduction in wing mass,{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} as does the [[delta wing]] shape of the [[Space Shuttle]].

====Vertical (retrograde)====
{{Main|VTVL|Retrorocket|Thrust reversal}}
Systems like the [[McDonnell Douglas DC-X|McDonnell Douglas DC-X (Delta Clipper)]] and those by [[SpaceX]] are examples of a retrograde system.
The boosters of [[Falcon 9]] and [[Falcon Heavy]] land using one of their nine engines. The [[Falcon 9]] rocket is the first orbital rocket to vertically land its first stage on the ground. The first stage of [[SpaceX Starship|Starship]] is planned to land vertically, while the second is to be caught by arms after performing most of the typical steps of a retrograde landing. [[Blue Origin]]'s [[New Shepard]] suborbital rocket also lands vertically back at the launch site.

Retrograde landing typically requires about 10% of the total first stage propellant, reducing the payload that can be carried due to the [[rocket equation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/679114269485436928|title=SpaceX on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=January 7, 2016|archive-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920110637/https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/679114269485436928|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Landing using aerostatic force====
There is also the concept of a launch vehicle with an inflatable, reusable first stage. The shape of this structure will be supported by excess internal pressure (using light gases). It is assumed that the bulk density of the first stage (without propellant) is less than the bulk density of air. Upon returning from flight, such a first stage remains floating in the air (without touching the surface of the Earth). This will ensure that the first stage is retained for reuse. Increasing the size of the first stage increases aerodynamic losses. This results in a slight decrease in payload. This reduction in payload is compensated for by the reuse of the first stage.<ref>{{Citation |url = https://engrxiv.org/xbf8z/ |first1 = Valentyn |last1 = Pidvysotskyi |title = The Concept of an Inflatable Reusable Launch Vehicle |date = July 2021 |doi = 10.31224/osf.io/xbf8z |s2cid = 243032818 |access-date = 2021-08-18 |archive-date = 2021-08-18 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210818223109/https://engrxiv.org/xbf8z/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

== Constraints ==
=== Extra weight ===
Reusable stages weigh more than equivalent [[Expendable launch vehicle|expendable stages]]. This is unavoidable due to the supplementary systems, landing gear and/or surplus propellant needed to land a stage. The actual mass penalty depends on the vehicle and the return mode chosen.<ref name=IAC2017 >{{Citation | url = http://elib.dlr.de/114960/1/IAC17-D2.4.4.pdf | first1 = M | last1 = Sippel | first2 = S | last2 = Stappert | first3 = L | last3 = Bussler | first4 = E | last4 = Dumont | title = Systematic Assessment of Reusable First-Stage Return Options | journal = IAC-17-D2.4.4, 68th International Astronautical Congress, Adelaide, Australia. | date = September 2017 | access-date = 2017-12-26 | archive-date = 2020-04-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200413165634/https://elib.dlr.de/114960/1/IAC17-D2.4.4.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Refurbishment===
After the launcher lands, it may need to be refurbished to prepare it for its next flight. This process may be lengthy and expensive. The launcher may not be able to be recertified as human-rated after refurbishment, although SpaceX has flown reused Falcon 9 boosters for human missions. There is eventually a limit on how many times a launcher can be refurbished before it has to be retired, but how often a launcher can be reused differs significantly between the various launch system designs.

==History==
With the development of [[rocket propulsion]] in the first half of the twentieth century, [[Spaceflight|space travel]] became a technical possibility.

Early ideas of a single-stage reusable [[spaceplane]] proved unrealistic and although even the first practical rocket vehicles ([[V-2]]) could reach the fringes of space, reusable technology was too heavy. In addition, many early rockets were developed to deliver weapons, making reuse impossible by design. The problem of mass efficiency was overcome by using multiple expendable stages in a vertical launch [[multistage rocket]]. USAF and NACA had been studying orbital reusable spaceplanes since 1958, e.g. [[Dyna-Soar]], but the first reusable stages did not fly until the advent of the US [[Space Shuttle]] in 1981.

===20th century===
[[File:McDonnell Douglas DC-XA.jpg|thumb|right|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-X]] used vertical takeoff and vertical landing]]

Perhaps the first reusable launch vehicles were the ones conceptualized and studied by [[Wernher von Braun]] from 1948 until 1956. The [[von Braun ferry rocket]] underwent two revisions: once in 1952 and again in 1956. They would have landed using parachutes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/v/vonbraunconceptvehicle.html|title=von Braun concept vehicle|website=www.astronautix.com|access-date=2020-11-15|archive-date=2020-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112012312/http://www.astronautix.com/v/vonbraunconceptvehicle.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/09/wernher-von-brauns-fantastic-vision-ferry-rocket/|title=Wernher von Braun's Fantastic Vision: Ferry Rocket |last1=Portree |first1=David S. F. |magazine=Wired |access-date=2020-11-15|archive-date=2020-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024915/https://www.wired.com/2014/09/wernher-von-brauns-fantastic-vision-ferry-rocket/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[General Dynamics Nexus]] was proposed in the 1960s as a fully reusable successor to the Saturn V rocket, having the capacity of transporting up to {{cvt|990000-2000000|lb|t|order=flip}} to orbit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4221/ch2.htm|title=ch2|website=history.nasa.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/n/nexus.html|title=Nexus|website=www.astronautix.com|access-date=2020-11-15|archive-date=2020-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109032934/http://www.astronautix.com/n/nexus.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> See also [[Sea Dragon (rocket)|Sea Dragon]], and [[Douglas SASSTO]].

The [[BAC Mustard]] was studied starting in 1964. It would have comprised three identical spaceplanes strapped together and arranged in two stages. During ascent the two outer spaceplanes, which formed the first stage, would detach and glide back individually to earth. It was canceled after the last study of the design in 1967 due to a lack of funds for development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baesystems.com/en-uk/feature/1960s-lsquothunderbirdsrsquo-projects-brought-to-life|title=Forgotten 1960s 'Thunderbirds' projects brought to life|website=BAE Systems &#124; United Kingdom|access-date=2021-02-07|archive-date=2021-01-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118141419/https://www.baesystems.com/en-uk/feature/1960s-lsquothunderbirdsrsquo-projects-brought-to-life|url-status=live}}</ref>

NASA started the [[Space Shuttle design process]] in 1968, with the vision of creating a fully reusable [[spaceplane]] using a crewed [[LFBB (NASA)|fly-back booster]]. This concept proved expensive and complex, therefore the design was scaled back to reusable [[solid rocket]] boosters and an expendable [[external tank]].<ref name=nasaStudy1982>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100513080246/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19940004970_1994004970.pdf NASA-CR-195281, "Utilization of the external tanks of the space transportation system"]</ref><ref name=nasaStudy1980>{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/craft/stsation.htm|title=STS External Tank Station|publisher=Ntrs.nasa.gov|access-date=7 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407010201/http://www.astronautix.com/craft/stsation.htm|archive-date=7 April 2015}}</ref> Space Shuttle ''[[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]]'' launched and landed 27 times and was lost with all crew on the 28th landing attempt; ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]'' launched and landed 9 times and was lost with all crew on the 10th launch attempt; ''[[Space Shuttle Discovery|Discovery]]'' launched and landed 39 times; ''[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Atlantis]]'' launched and landed 33 times; ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'' launched and landed 25 times.

In 1986 President [[Ronald Reagan]] called for an air-breathing [[scramjet]] [[National Aerospace Plane]] (NASP)/[[X-30]]. The project failed due to technical issues and was canceled in 1993.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/c/coppercanyon.html|title=Copper Canyon|website=www.astronautix.com|access-date=2018-06-08|archive-date=2020-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920050424/http://www.astronautix.com/c/coppercanyon.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the late 1980s a fully reusable version of the [[Energia (rocket)|Energia]] rocket, the Energia II, was proposed. Its boosters and core would have had the capability of landing separately on a runway.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.buran.ru/htm/41-3.htm|title=Б.И.Губанов. Триумф и трагедия "Энергии" глава 41|website=www.buran.ru|access-date=2020-11-14|archive-date=2020-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108103946/http://www.buran.ru/htm/41-3.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 1990s the [[McDonnell Douglas]] [[Delta Clipper]] VTOL SSTO proposal progressed to the testing phase. The [[DC-X]] prototype demonstrated rapid turnaround time and automatic computer control.

In mid-1990s, British research evolved an earlier [[HOTOL]] design into the far more promising [[Skylon (spacecraft)|Skylon]] design, which remained in development until 2024 when the company developing Skylon went bankrupt.

From the late 1990s to the 2000s, the [[European Space Agency]] studied the recovery of the [[Ariane 5]] [[solid rocket]] boosters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2008/11/Recovery_of_an_Ariane_5_booster_at_sea|title=Recovery of an Ariane 5 booster at sea|website=www.esa.int|access-date=2021-03-03|archive-date=2021-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001025526/https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2008/11/Recovery_of_an_Ariane_5_booster_at_sea|url-status=live}}</ref> The last recovery attempt took place in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.france-science.org/spip.php?article399#3-ARIANE-5-ECA-BOOSTER-RECOVERED|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125213207/http://www.france-science.org/spip.php?article399#3-ARIANE-5-ECA-BOOSTER-RECOVERED|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-01-25|title=France in Space #387|access-date=2021-03-03}}</ref>

The commercial ventures, [[Rocketplane Kistler]] and [[Rotary Rocket]], attempted to build reusable privately developed rockets before going bankrupt.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

NASA proposed reusable concepts to replace the Shuttle technology, to be demonstrated under the [[X-33]] and [[X-34]] programs, which were both cancelled in the early 2000s due to rising costs and technical issues.

=== 21st century ===
[[File:Kluft-photo-SS1-landing-June-2004-Img 1406c.jpg|thumb|[[Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne]] used horizontal landing after being launched from a carrier airplane|alt=]]
[[File:Falcon Heavy Side Boosters landing on LZ1 and LZ2 - 2018 (25254688767).jpg|right|thumb|330x330px|[[Falcon Heavy]] side boosters landing during 2018 [[Falcon Heavy test flight|demonstration mission]].]]
The [[Ansari X Prize]] contest was intended to develop private suborbital reusable vehicles. Many private companies competed, with the winner, [[Scaled Composites]], reaching the [[Kármán line]] twice in a two-week period with their reusable [[SpaceShipOne]].

In 2012, [[SpaceX]] started a flight test program with [[SpaceX Grasshopper|experimental vehicles]]. These subsequently led to the development of the [[Falcon 9]] reusable rocket launcher.<ref name="nsw20130328">{{cite news|url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-moving-quickly-towards-fly-back-first-stage.html|title=SpaceX moving quickly towards fly-back first stage|last=Lindsey|first=Clark|date=2013-03-28|newspaper=NewSpace Watch|access-date=2013-03-29|url-access=subscription|archive-date=2013-04-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416030256/http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-moving-quickly-towards-fly-back-first-stage.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 23 November 2015 the [[New Shepard]] rocket became the first [[VTVL|Vertical Take-off, Vertical Landing]] (VTVL)<!-- VTVL is used in rocketry; "[[VTOL]]" is a term used in aviation with aeroplanes --> sub-orbital rocket to reach space by passing the [[Kármán line]] ({{cvt|100|km|disp=or}}), reaching {{cvt|329,839|ft}} before returning for a propulsive landing.<ref name="space20151124">{{cite news |url=http://www.space.com/31202-blue-origin-historic-private-rocket-landing.html |title=Blue Origin Makes Historic Reusable Rocket Landing in Epic Test Flight |work=Calla Cofield |publisher=Space.Com |date=2015-11-24 |access-date=2015-11-25 |archive-date=2021-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209034257/https://www.space.com/31202-blue-origin-historic-private-rocket-landing.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="arstechnica20151125">{{cite web|last1=Berger|first1=Eric|title=Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk spar over gravity of Blue Origin rocket landing|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2015/11/jeff-bezos-and-elon-musk-spar-over-gravity-of-blue-origin-rocket-landing/|website=Ars Technica|date=24 November 2015 |access-date=25 November 2015|archive-date=13 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413123413/https://arstechnica.com/science/2015/11/jeff-bezos-and-elon-musk-spar-over-gravity-of-blue-origin-rocket-landing/|url-status=live}}</ref>

SpaceX achieved the first vertical soft landing of a reusable orbital rocket stage on December 21, 2015, after delivering 11 [[Orbcomm OG-2]] commercial satellites into [[low Earth orbit]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/679114269485436928|title=SpaceX on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=2015-12-22|archive-date=2020-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920110637/https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/679114269485436928|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first reuse of a Falcon 9 first stage occurred on 30 March 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2017/mar/31/spacex-successfuly-launches-first-recycled-rocket-video|title=SpaceX {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|suc|cessful|y}} launches first recycled rocket – video|date=31 March 2017|agency=Reuters|work=The Guardian|access-date=31 March 2017|archive-date=9 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209034302/https://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2017/mar/31/spacex-successfuly-launches-first-recycled-rocket-video|url-status=live}}</ref> SpaceX now routinely recovers and reuses [[SpaceX reusable launch system development program#Fairing reuse|their first stages, as well as reusing fairings]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.space.com/spacex-reuse-payload-fairing-starlink-launch.html|title=SpaceX Recovered Falcon Heavy Nose Cone, Plans to Re-fly it This Year (Photos)|first=Mike|last=Wall|date=12 April 2019 |website=Space.com|access-date=2019-04-29|archive-date=2021-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209040053/https://www.space.com/spacex-reuse-payload-fairing-starlink-launch.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2019 [[Rocket Lab]] announced plans to recover and reuse the first stage of their [[Electron (rocket)|Electron]] launch vehicle, intending to use [[parachute]]s and [[mid-air retrieval]].<ref name=rlab20190806>{{cite web|url=https://www.rocketlabusa.com/about-us/updates/rocket-lab-announces-reusability-plans-for-electron-rocket/|title=Rocket Lab Announces Reusability Plans For Electron Rocket|publisher=Rocket Lab|date=6 August 2019|access-date=7 December 2019|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521172157/https://www.rocketlabusa.com/about-us/updates/rocket-lab-announces-reusability-plans-for-electron-rocket/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 20 November 2020, Rocket Lab successfully returned an Electron first stage from an orbital launch, the stage softly splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.<ref name="SpaceNews 2020">{{cite web | title=Rocket Lab launches Electron in test of booster recovery | website=SpaceNews | date=2020-11-20 | url=https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-electron-in-test-of-booster-recovery/ | access-date=2020-11-20 | archive-date=2021-10-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001025441/https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-launches-electron-in-test-of-booster-recovery/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

China is researching the reusability of the [[Long March 8]] system.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/china-to-test-rocket-reusability-with-planned-long-march-8-launcher/|title=China to test rocket reusability with planned Long March 8 launcher|date=2018-04-30|publisher=SpaceNews.com|access-date=2020-10-04|archive-date=2021-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001025442/https://spacenews.com/china-to-test-rocket-reusability-with-planned-long-march-8-launcher/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{As of|May 2020}}, the only operational reusable orbital-class launch systems are the Falcon 9 and [[Falcon Heavy]], the latter of which is based upon the Falcon 9. SpaceX is also developing the fully reusable [[SpaceX Starship|Starship]] launch system.<ref name=musk20170929>
Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/tdUX3ypDVwI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170929083108/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdUX3ypDVwI Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdUX3ypDVwI |people=Elon Musk |title=Becoming a Multiplanetary Species |date=29 September 2017 |medium=video |location=68th annual meeting of the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, Australia |publisher=SpaceX |via=YouTube |access-date=2017-12-31}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Blue Origin]] is developing its own [[New Glenn]] partially reusable orbital rocket, as it is intending to recover and reuse only the first stage.

5 October 2020, Roscosmos signed a development contract for [[Amur (launch vehicle)|Amur]] a new launcher with a reusable first stage.<ref name=roscosmos20201005>{{cite web |title=Trouble-free as a Kalashnikov assault rifle: the Amur methane rocket |url=https://www.roscosmos.ru/29357/ |publisher=[[Roscosmos]] |language=ru |date=5 October 2020 |access-date=6 October 2020 |archive-date=6 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006120801/https://www.roscosmos.ru/29357/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2020, ESA signed contracts to start developing [[Themis programme|THEMIS]], a prototype reusable first stage launcher.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/ESA_plans_demonstration_of_a_reusable_rocket_stage_999.html|title=ESA plans demonstration of a reusable rocket stage|website=Space Daily|access-date=2020-12-19|archive-date=2020-12-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216090722/https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/ESA_plans_demonstration_of_a_reusable_rocket_stage_999.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Return to launch site ==

After 1980, but before the 2010s, two orbital launch vehicles developed the capability to '''return to the launch site''' (RTLS).  Both the US [[Space Shuttle]]—with one of its [[Space Shuttle abort modes#Return to launch site (RTLS)|abort modes]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Return to Launch Site |url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/sts/aborts/rtls.html |website=NASA.gov |accessdate=4 October 2016 |archive-date=15 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415062428/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/sts/aborts/rtls.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Space Shuttle Abort Evolution |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110015564.pdf |website=ntrs.nasa.gov |date=26 September 2011 |accessdate=4 October 2016 }}</ref>—and the Soviet [[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]]<ref name="ng2016041">{{cite web |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/160412-soviet-union-space-shuttle-buran-cosmonaut-day-gagarin/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415135433/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/160412-soviet-union-space-shuttle-buran-cosmonaut-day-gagarin/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |title=The Forgotten Soviet Space Shuttle Could Fly Itself |work=[[National Geographic Channel|National Geographic]] |publisher=[[National Geographic Society]] |first=Brian|last=Handwerk |date=12 April 2016 |accessdate=4 October 2016 }}</ref>
had a designed-in capability to return a part of the launch vehicle to the launch site via the mechanism of [[HTHL|horizontal-landing]] of the [[spaceplane]] portion of the launch vehicle.  In both cases, the main vehicle thrust structure and the large propellant tank were [[expendable launch vehicle|expendable]], as had been the standard procedure for all orbital launch vehicles flown prior to that time.  Both were subsequently demonstrated on actual orbital nominal flights, although both also had an abort mode during launch that could conceivably allow the crew to land the spaceplane following an off-nominal launch.

In the 2000s, both [[SpaceX]] and [[Blue Origin]] have [[private spaceflight|privately developed]] a set of technologies to support [[vertical landing]] of the booster stage of a launch vehicle. 
After 2010, SpaceX undertook a [[SpaceX reusable launch system development program|development program]] to acquire the ability to bring back and [[VTVL|vertically land]] a part of the [[Falcon 9 FT|Falcon 9]] [[orbital spaceflight|orbital]] launch vehicle: the [[first stage (rocketry)|first stage]].  The first successful landing was done in December 2015,<ref name="abc2015121">{{cite web |title=SpaceX Historic Rocket Landing Is a Success |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/spacex-historic-rocket-landing-success/story?id=35888303 |last1=Newcomb|first1=Alyssa |last2=Dooley|first2=Erin | website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=21 December 2015 |accessdate=4 October 2016 }}</ref> since then several additional rocket stages landed either at a [[Landing Zones 1 and 2|landing pad]] adjacent to the launch site or on a [[Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship|landing platform]] at sea, some distance away from the launch site.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/08/17/spacex-lands-6th-rocket-moves-closer-to-reusabilit.aspx |title=SpaceX Lands 6th Rocket, Moves Closer to Reusability |work=[[Los Motley Fool]] |first=Daniel|last=Sparks |date=17 August 2016 |accessdate=27 February 2017 }}</ref> The [[Falcon Heavy]] is similarly designed to reuse the three cores comprising its first stage. On its [[Falcon Heavy test flight|first flight]] in February 2018, the two outer cores successfully returned to the launch site landing pads while the center core targeted the landing platform at sea but did not successfully land on it.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gebhardt|first1=Chris|title=SpaceX successfully debuts Falcon Heavy in demonstration launch from KSC – NASASpaceFlight.com|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/02/spacex-debut-falcon-heavy-demonstration-launch/|accessdate=February 23, 2018|work=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=February 5, 2018}}</ref>

[[Blue Origin]] developed similar technologies for bringing back and landing their [[suborbital]] ''[[New Shepard]]'', and successfully demonstrated return in 2015, and successfully reused the same booster on a second suborbital flight in January 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://spacenews.com/blue-origin-reflies-new-shepard-suborbital-vehicle/ |title=Blue Origin reflies New Shepard suborbital vehicle |work=[[SpaceNews]] |first=Jeff|last=Foust |date=22 January 2016 |accessdate=1 November 2017 }}</ref>  By October 2016, Blue had reflown, and landed successfully, that same launch vehicle a total of five times.<ref name="sn20161005">{{cite news |last=Foust|first=Jeff |url=http://spacenews.com/blue-origin-successfully-tests-new-shepard-abort-system/ |title=Blue Origin successfully tests New Shepard abort system |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=5 October 2016 |accessdate=8 October 2016 }}</ref> It must however be noted that the launch trajectories of both vehicles are very different, with New Shepard going straight up and down without achieving orbital flight, whereas Falcon 9 has to cancel substantial horizontal velocity and return from a significant distance downrange, while delivering the payload to orbit with the second stage.

Both Blue Origin and SpaceX also have additional reusable launch vehicles under development.  Blue is developing the first stage of the orbital [[New Glenn]] LV to be reusable, with first flight planned for no earlier than 2024. 
SpaceX has a new super-heavy launch vehicle under development for missions to [[interplanetary spaceflight|interplanetary space]]. The [[SpaceX Starship]] is designed to support RTLS, vertical-landing and full reuse of ''both'' the booster stage and the integrated second-stage/large-spacecraft that are designed for use with Starship.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Foust|first1=Jeff|title=Musk offers more technical details on BFR system - SpaceNews.com|url=http://spacenews.com/musk-offers-more-technical-details-on-bfr-system/|website=SpaceNews.com|accessdate=February 23, 2018|date=15 October 2017}}</ref> Its [[SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 1|first launch attempt]] took place in April 2023; however, both stages were lost during ascent. On the [[SpaceX Starship integrated flight test 4|fourth launch attempt]] however, both the booster and the ship achieved a soft landing in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and the [[Indian Ocean]], respectively.

==List of reusable launch vehicles==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Company !! Vehicle 
!Reusable Component
!Launched
!Recovered
!Reflown
!Payload to LEO
!First Launch
! Status
|-
| rowspan=2 | {{Flagicon|USA}} [[NASA]]
| rowspan=2 | [[Space Shuttle]]
|[[Space Shuttle orbiter|Orbiter]]
|135
|133
|130
| Rowspan=2 |27,500&nbsp;kg
| Rowspan=2 |1981
| Rowspan=2 {{Dropped|Retired (2011)}}
|-
|[[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster|Side booster]]
|270
|266
|{{n/a|N/A}}{{efn|An exact figure for reused SRBs is not possible because the boosters were broken up for parts at the end of recovery and not kept as complete sets of parts.}}
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}} [[NASA]]|| [[Ares I]]
|First stage
|1
|1
|0
|25,400&nbsp;kg
|2009
| {{Dropped|Retired (2010)}}
|-
| Rowspan = 2 | {{Flagicon|USA}} [[SpaceX]]
| Rowspan = 2 |[[Falcon 9]]
|[[List of Falcon 9 first-stage boosters|First stage]]
|{{Falcon rocket statistics|F9launch}}
|{{#expr:{{Falcon rocket statistics|F9Landingsuccess}} - 2}}
|{{#expr:{{Falcon rocket statistics|F9FTBlock5launch}} - {{Falcon rocket statistics|F9FTBlock5boosters}} + 12}} <!-- 12 is the number of non-Block 5 Falcon 9 launches with reused boosters -->
| Rowspan = 2 | 17,500&nbsp;kg (reusable)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1762019803630563800|author=Elon Musk|title=Due to continued design improvements, this Falcon 9 carried its highest ever payload of 17.5 tons of useful load to a useful orbit|date=26 February 2024}}</ref><br />22,800&nbsp;kg (expended)
| Rowspan = 2 | 2010
| Rowspan = 2 {{Yes|Active}}
|-
|Fairing half
| >486{{efn|name=falconfairing|As of 12 January 2024. A presentation slide at the company's all-hands meeting stated that fairing halves of the Falcon 9 and Heavy rockets had been recovered and reflown "more than 300 times".<ref>{{YouTube|id=6xLmBLWDSHo|time=14m12s|title=Elon Musk delivers SpaceX update, talks Starship progress and more!}}</ref>}}
| colspan = 2 | >300 {{small|(Falcon 9 and Heavy)}}{{efn|name=falconfairing}}
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}}{{Flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Rocket Lab]]|| [[Electron (rocket)|Electron]]
|[[List of Electron first stages|First stage]]
|63
|9
|0{{efn|Rocket Lab announced in 2024 that it will be reusing a recovered first stage.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240410860946/en/Rocket-Lab-Returns-Previously-Flown-Electron-to-Production-Line-in-Preparation-for-First-Reflight | title=Rocket Lab Returns Previously Flown Electron to Production Line in Preparation for First Reflight }}</ref>}}
|325&nbsp;kg (expended)
|2017
| {{Operational|Active, reflight planned}}
|-
| Rowspan=3 | {{Flagicon|USA}} [[SpaceX]]
| Rowspan=3 | [[Falcon Heavy]]
|Side booster
|22
|18
|14
| Rowspan=3 |~33,000&nbsp;kg (all cores reusable)<br />63,800&nbsp;kg (expended)
| Rowspan=3 |2018
| Rowspan=3 {{Yes|Active}}
|-
|Center core
|11
|0{{efn|The center booster used for [[Arabsat-6A]] was landed but not recovered.}}
|0
|-
|Fairing half
| >18{{efn|name=falconfairing}}
| colspan = 2 | >300 {{small|(Falcon 9 and Heavy)}}{{efn|name=falconfairing}}
|-
| rowspan=2 |{{Flagicon|USA}} [[SpaceX]]
| rowspan=2 |[[SpaceX Starship|Starship]]
|[[SpaceX Super Heavy|First stage]]
|{{SpaceX Starship Statistics|totalLaunches}}
|{{#expr:{{SpaceX Starship Statistics|totalBlock1BoosterRecover}} + {{SpaceX Starship Statistics|totalBlock2BoosterRecover}}}} 
|{{#expr:{{SpaceX Starship Statistics|totalBlock1BoosterReflight}} + {{SpaceX Starship Statistics|totalBlock2BoosterReflight}}}}
| rowspan=2 |50,000-100,000&nbsp;kg (Block 1)<br />100,000-150,000&nbsp;kg (Block 2)
200,000&nbsp;kg (Block 3)
| rowspan=2 |2023
| rowspan=2 {{Yes|Active}}
|-
|[[SpaceX Starship (spacecraft)|Second stage]]
|{{SpaceX Starship Statistics|totalLaunches}}
|{{SpaceX Starship Statistics|totalBlock2ShipRecover}}
|{{SpaceX Starship Statistics|totalBlock2ShipReflight}}
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}} [[United Launch Alliance]]|| [[Vulcan Centaur]]
|First stage engine module
|2
|0
|0
|27,200&nbsp;kg
|2024
|{{Operational|Active, recovery planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|China}} [[Space Pioneer]]
|[[Space Pioneer#Tianlong 3|Tianlong-3]]
|First stage
|1
|0
|0
|17,000&nbsp;kg
|2025
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Blue Origin]]|| [[New Glenn]]
|First stage, fairing
|1
|0
|0
|45,000&nbsp;kg
|2025
|{{Operational|Active, recovery planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|China}} [[Galactic Energy]]
|[[Pallas-1]]
|First stage
|0
|0
|0
|5,000&nbsp;kg
|2024
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|China}} [[Deep Blue Aerospace]]
|[[Nebula 1]]
|First stage
|0
|0
|0
|2,000&nbsp;kg
|2025
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|South Korea}} [[Perigee Aerospace]]
|[[Perigee Aerospace|Blue Whale 1]]
|First stage
|0
|0
|0
|170&nbsp;kg
|2025
|{{Planned}}
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}}{{Flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Rocket Lab]]|| [[Neutron (rocket)|Neutron]]
|First stage (includes fairing)
|0
|0
|0
|13,000&nbsp;kg (reusable)<br />15,000&nbsp;kg (expended)
|2025
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Stoke Space]]
|[[Nova (fully reusable launch vehicle)|Nova]]
|Fully reusable
|0
|0
|0
|3,000&nbsp;kg (reusable)<br />5,000&nbsp;kg (stage 2 expended)<br />7,000&nbsp;kg (fully expended)
|2025
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|China}} [[CAS Space]]
|[[Kinetica-2]]
|First stage
|0
|0
|0
|12,000&nbsp;kg
|2025
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|China}} [[i-Space (Chinese company)|I-space]]
|[[Hyperbola-3]]
|First stage
|0
|0
|0
|8,300&nbsp;kg (reusable)<br />13,400&nbsp;kg (expended)
|2025
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|China}} [[LandSpace]]
|[[Zhuque-3]]
|First stage
|0
|0
|0
|18,300&nbsp;kg (reusable)<br />21,300&nbsp;kg (expended) 
|2025
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|China}} [[China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology|CALT]]
|[[Long March 12B]]
|First Stage
|0
|0
|0
|
|2025
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|China}} [[Deep Blue Aerospace]]
|[[Deep Blue Aerospace#Nebula 2|Nebula 2]]
|First stage
|0
|0
|0
|20,000&nbsp;kg
|2025
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|China}} [[Orienspace]]
|[[Orienspace|Gravity-2]]
|First stage
|0
|0
|0
|17,400&nbsp;kg (reusable)<br / >21,500&nbsp;kg(expended)
|2025
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|Russia}} [[Roscosmos]]
|[[Amur (launch vehicle)|Amur]]
|First stage
|0
|0
|0
|10,500&nbsp;kg
|2026
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|USA}} [[Relativity Space]]
|[[Terran R]]
|First stage
|0
|0
|0
|23,500&nbsp;kg (reusable)<br />33,500&nbsp;kg (expended)
|2026
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|Spain}} [[PLD Space]]
|[[Miura 5]]
|First stage
|0
|0
|0
|900&nbsp;kg
|2026
|{{Planned}}
|-
| Rowspan=2 | {{Flagicon|China}} [[Space Pioneer]]
| Rowspan=2 | [[Space Pioneer#Tianlong 3|Tianlong-3H]]
|Side booster
|0
|0
|0
| Rowspan=2 |68,000&nbsp;kg (expended)
| Rowspan=2 |2026
| Rowspan=2 {{Planned}}
|-
|Center core
|0
|0
|0
|-
|{{Flagicon|China}} [[Orienspace]]
|[[Orienspace|Gravity-3]]
|First stage, fairing
|0
|0
|0
|30,600&nbsp;kg
|2027
|{{Planned}}
|-
|{{Flagicon|China}} [[China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology|CALT]]
|[[Long March 10A]]
|First Stage
|0
|0
|0
|14,000&nbsp;kg (reusable)<br />18,000&nbsp;kg (expended)
|2027
|{{Planned}}
|-
| rowspan=2 |{{Flagicon|China}} [[China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology|CALT]]
| rowspan=2 |[[Long March 9]]
|First Stage
|0
|0
|0
| rowspan=2 | 100,000&nbsp;kg
| rowspan=2 | 2033
| rowspan=2 {{Planned}}
|-
|Second Stage
|0
|0
|0
|}
{{notelist}}

==List of reusable spacecraft==

{{Main|Reusable spacecraft#List of reusable orbital spacecraft}}

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Company !! Spacecraft 
!Launch Vehicle
!Launched
!Recovered
!Reflown
!Launch Mass
!First Launch
!Status
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}} [[NASA]] || [[Space Shuttle orbiter]] 
|[[Space Shuttle]]
|135
|133
|130
|110,000&nbsp;kg
|1981
|{{Dropped|Retired (2011)}}
|-
| {{Flagicon|USSR}} [[Energia (corporation)|NPO-Energia]] || [[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]] 
|[[Energia (rocket)|Energia]]
|1
|1
|0
|92,000&nbsp;kg
|1988
|{{Dropped|Retired (1988)}}
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Boeing]] || [[X-37]]
|[[Atlas V]], [[Falcon 9|Falcon{{nbsp}}9]], [[Falcon Heavy]]
|7
|7
|5
| 5,000&nbsp;kg
|2010
|{{Yes|Active}}
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}} [[SpaceX]]
| [[SpaceX Dragon|Dragon]]
| Falcon 9
|51
|49
|30
| 12,519&nbsp;kg
| 2010
| {{Yes|Active}}
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}} [[NASA]]|| [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion]]
| [[Space Launch System]]
|2
|2
|0
| 10,400&nbsp;kg (excluding service module and abort system)
|2014
|{{Operational|Active, reflight planned}}
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Boeing]]|| [[Boeing Starliner|Starliner]]
| Atlas V
|3
|3
|1
| 13,000&nbsp;kg
|2019
|{{Yes|Active}}
|-
| {{Flagicon|China}} [[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation|CASC]]
| [[Shenlong (spacecraft)]]
| [[Long March 2F]]
|3
|2
| unknown
| unknown
|2020
|{{Operational|Active, reusability unknown}}
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Sierra Space]]|| [[Dream Chaser]]
| [[Vulcan Centaur]]
|0
|0
|0
| 9,000&nbsp;kg
|2025
|{{Planned}}
|-
| {{Flagicon|China}} [[China Academy of Space Technology|CAST]]
| [[Mengzhou (spacecraft)|Mengzhou]]
| [[Long March 10A]]
|0
|0
|0
| 14,000&nbsp;kg
|2027
|{{Planned}}
|}
{{notelist}}

== List of reusable suborbital spacecraft ==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Company !! Vehicle 
!First launch to space
!Launches to space (only successful launches counted)
!Recovered from space (only successful recoveries counted)
!Reflown to space (only successful launches counted) !! Notes
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Blue Origin]] || [[New Shepard]] 
|2015
|27
|26
|22 || Fully reusable. Active as of December 2024. Of the 27 (successful) launches to space, 3 were to an altitude over 80km (USAF/NASA limit for space) but below 100km (international limit for space) and 24 to an altitude over 100km.
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Virgin Galactic]] || [[SpaceShipTwo]] ([[VSS Unity]]) 
|2018
|12
|12
|11 || Fully reusable. Retired in 2024. Only flew to above 80km (USAF/NASA limit for space) but not above 100km (international limit for space).
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}} [[Mojave Aerospace Ventures]]/[[Scaled Composites]] || [[SpaceShipOne]] 
|2004
|3
|3
|2 || Fully reusable. Retired in 2004. Of the 3 (successful) launches to space, all were to an altitude over 100km (international limit for space).
|-
| {{Flagicon|USA}} [[North American Aviation]]/[[USAF]]/[[NASA]] || [[North American X-15]] 
|1962
|13
|12
|11 || Fully reusable. Retired in 1968. Of the 13 (successful) launches to space, 2 were to an altitude over 100km (international limit for space) and 11 to an altitude over 80km (USAF/NASA limit for space) but below 100km.
|-
|}
List updated 1 December 2024.

== See also ==
{{div col}}
* [[Reusable spacecraft]]
* [[SpaceX reusable launch system development program]]
* [[List of private spaceflight companies]]
* [[Takeoff and landing]]
*[https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/entry-descent-landing/ Mars Descent Vehicle]
*[https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/entry-descent-landing/ Mars Ascent Vehicle]
*[[Lunar Lander (spacecraft)|Lunar Lander]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Bibliography==
* Heribert Kuczera, et al.: ''Reusable space transportation systems.'' Springer, Berlin 2011, {{ISBN|978-3-540-89180-2}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Reusable launch systems}}
* [http://www.ikonet.com/en/visualdictionary/astronomy/astronautics/space-shuttle/space-shuttle-at-takeoff.php Illustration of a Space Shuttle at takeoff and Orbiter] (Visual Dictionary - QAInternational)
*[[Lunar lander|Lunar Lander Module]]

{{Reusable launch systems}}
{{Spaceflight}}
{{emerging technologies|topics=yes|space=yes}}
{{European launch systems}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Spacecraft propulsion]]
[[Category:Reusable launch systems| ]]
[[Category:Reusable spaceflight technology]]
[[Category:Space launch vehicles]]
[[Category:Space access]]
[[Category:Rocket propulsion]]