launch vehicle

noun

: a rocket used to launch a satellite or spacecraft

Examples of launch vehicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Rocket Lab is the only company experimenting with a small reusable booster on its light-class Electron rocket, but officials there are more focused on developing a much larger medium-class partially reusable launch vehicle. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 13 Sep. 2024 As the ambient air pressure and speed of the vehicle change, so does the ideal shape of that exhaust nozzle – and this is one reason why most space launch vehicles use multiple stages. New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2024 SpaceX has been developing and testing the Starship, which is classified as a super heavy-lift launch vehicle and is lauded as the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 9 Sep. 2024 Relativity Space Ellis is not wrong—there is considerable demand for medium- and heavy-lift launch vehicles with large fairings that can carry multiple satellites to space, particularly from Amazon. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 4 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for launch vehicle 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'launch vehicle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of launch vehicle was circa 1960

Dictionary Entries Near launch vehicle

Cite this Entry

“Launch vehicle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/launch%20vehicle. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on launch vehicle

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