NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

All Expendable Launch Vehicles use the same basic technology to get into space: two or more rocket-powered stages, which are discarded when their engine burns are complete. So how does NASA decide which vehicle to use? That's determined by the payload's weight, orbital destination and purpose. Each launch vehicle has a different set of specialties.

Image to left: NASA's Lunar Prospector spacecraft streaks toward the Moon from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Jan. 6, 1998. Credit: NASA


Delta
The Delta family of rockets has launched a variety of scientific payloads that have captured our imagination and expanded knowledge of our Solar System and surrounding universe.
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Pegasus
Launched from the underbelly of a converted L-1011 aircraft, the Pegasus vehicle can be launched from almost any location in the world.
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Atlas
NASA relied on Atlas vehicles for several TDRS, GOES and NOAA launches, among others.
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Taurus
NASA's ACRIMSAT spacecraft was boosted into space aboard a Taurus launch vehicle.
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