launch vehicle

noun

1. Aerospace.,  a rocket used to launch a spacecraft or satellite into orbit or a space probe into space.

launch vehicle

noun

1. a rocket, without its payload, used to launch a spacecraft

2. another name for booster

Word History and Origins

Origin of launch vehicle¹

First recorded in 1955–1960

Example Sentences

Other ground-based launchers could be adapted to fire the Tomahawks, including a new launch vehicle made by Oshkosh Defense.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Ariane was Europe's main rocket launch vehicle, helping more than 230 satellites into orbit, before it was retired in 2023.

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The 116 satellites onboard the launch vehicle were mostly designed and built by Western nations and businesses – but one of them was different.

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The one in the new image came from Japan's H-IIA launch vehicle, which lofted a CO2-measuring spacecraft called Gosat, in 2009.

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The development of the Angara-A-5, which is set to be the main launch vehicle for Russia’s prospective lunar research program, has also faced repeated delays and dragged on years behind schedule.

Read more on Seattle Times