Rocket Categorization According To Their Sizes

Rockets come in a wide range of sizes, each designed for specific purposes, from launching small payloads into space to sending humans to the Moon or even beyond. Here's a detailed report on rockets categorized by their size:

1. Small Rockets

Small rockets are typically used for educational purposes, hobbyist projects, and launching small payloads. They can also serve as suborbital research vehicles.

• Examples:
  • Sounding Rockets: These are suborbital rockets used for scientific experiments in the upper atmosphere. They are generally around 12–20 meters in length and can reach altitudes between 50 to 1,500 kilometers.
    • Example: Black Brant IX, Terrier-Orion.
  • CubeSat Launchers: These rockets are designed to launch small CubeSats (satellite class with a standard size of 10 cm³) into low Earth orbit (LEO).
    • Example: Rocket Lab's Electron (17 meters in length).

2. Medium Rockets

Medium-sized rockets are often used for launching satellites into geostationary orbit (GEO) or for human spaceflight missions to low Earth orbit.

• Examples:
  • Falcon 1: Developed by SpaceX, this small-lift launch vehicle was the first privately developed liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit. It stands at 21 meters in height.
  • Vega: A European Space Agency rocket, Vega is used for launching small payloads into polar orbit. It stands at 30 meters in height.
  • Soyuz: A workhorse of spaceflight, this Russian rocket is used to launch crewed missions and cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). It stands at about 46 meters tall.

3. Heavy-Lift Rockets

Heavy-lift rockets are designed to carry larger payloads, such as satellites, space station modules, and deep-space probes, to a variety of orbits.

• Examples:
  • Falcon 9: SpaceX's partially reusable rocket, standing at 70 meters, is used for a wide range of missions, including launching satellites to GEO and delivering cargo to the ISS.
  • Ariane 5: This European rocket, standing at 50 meters, is used to launch large payloads into GEO and low Earth orbit.
  • Delta IV Heavy: One of the most powerful rockets, this ULA rocket stands at 72 meters and is used for heavy payloads, including national security missions and deep-space probes.

4. Super Heavy-Lift Rockets

These are the giants of the rocket world, designed for the most demanding missions, including sending humans to the Moon, Mars, or deep space.

• Examples:
  • Saturn V: The iconic NASA rocket used for the Apollo missions, Saturn V stood at 110.6 meters and could lift over 140 metric tons to low Earth orbit.
  • Space Launch System (SLS): NASA's next-generation rocket, designed to send humans to the Moon and Mars, is expected to stand at 98 meters (Block 1 configuration) with a lifting capacity of 95 metric tons to LEO.
  • Starship: SpaceX's fully reusable rocket, still under development, is designed for missions to Mars. When stacked with its Super Heavy booster, it will stand at 120 meters tall.

5. Microrockets

Microrockets are designed for launching very small payloads or for use in highly specialized applications.

• Examples:
  • SS-520: A Japanese solid-fueled microrocket, the SS-520 stands at just 9.54 meters tall and is one of the smallest rockets to reach orbit.

6. Model Rockets

Model rockets are small-scale rockets typically used for educational and hobbyist purposes. They are not capable of reaching orbit and are usually less than 1 meter tall.

• Examples:
  • Estes Rockets: A popular brand among hobbyists, with models ranging from 30 cm to about 1 meter in height.