New Launch Vehicles Expected to Make 2022 Maiden Flights

Sixteen new launch vehicles were expected to debut this year. In late March, Blue Origin delayed its debut to 2023. Here’s a look at New Glenn and the class of 2022, including their expected capabilities.

Builder: Boeing
Nation: United States
Customer: NASA
Thrust at launch: 8.8 million lbs
Payload to low Earth orbit: 95 tons
Maximum payload range: Interplanetary Space Launch System Builder: SpaceX
Nation: United States
Customer: Commercial
Thrust at launch:
16 million lbs
Payload to low Earth orbit: 110 tons
Maximum payload range: Interplanetary Starship Vulcan
Centaur Builder: United Launch Alliance
Nation: United States
Customer: Defense
Department, Commercial
Thrust at launch:
4.2 million lbs
Payload to low Earth orbit:
30 tons
Maximum payload
range: Interplanetary Builder: Arianespace
Nation: France
Customer: ESA, Commercial
Thrust at launch: 4.3 million lbs
Payload to low Earth orbit: 24 tons
Maximum payload range: Interplanetary Ariane 6 (Delayed to 2023)
Builder: Blue Origin
Nation: United States
Customer: Commercial
Thrust at launch: 3.8 million lbs
Payload to low Earth orbit: 49 tons
Maximum payload range:
Geosynchronous orbit New Glenn Builder: Mitsubishi
Nation: Japan
Customer: JAXA,
Commercial
Thrust at launch: 2.9 million lbs
Payload to low Earth orbit:
31 tons
Maximum payload range:
Geosynchronous orbit H3 Builder: Relativity Space
Nation: United States
Customer: Commercial
Thrust at launch: 207,000 lbs
Payload to low Earth orbit:
3,760 lbs
Maximum payload range:
Sun-synchronous orbit Terran 1 Builder: Gilmour Space
Nation: Australia
Customer: Commercial
Thrust at launch: 100,000 lbs
Payload to low Earth orbit: 700 lbs
Maximum payload range: low Earth orbit Eris Builder: Skyrora
Nation: United Kingdom
Customer: Commercial
Thrust at launch: 140,000 lbs
Payload to low Earth Orbit:
700 lbs
Maximum Payload Range:
Sun-synchronous orbit Skyrora XL Builder: ISAR Aerospace
Nation: Germany
Customer: Commercial
Thrust at launch: 150,000 lbs
Payload to low Earth Orbit:
2,200 lbs
Maximum payload range:
Sun-synchronous orbit Spectrum Builder: Rocket Factory Augsburg
Nation: Germany
Customer: Commercial
Thrust at launch: 180,000 lbs
Payload to low Earth Orbit:
3,000 lbs
Maximum Payload Range:
Geosynchronous orbit RFAONE Builder: Orbex
Nation: United Kingdom
Customer: Commercial
Thrust at Launch: 48,000 lbs
Payload to low Earth orbit:
330 lbs
Maximum payload range: low
Earth orbit Orbex Prime Builder: ABL Space Systems
Nation: United States
Customer: Commercial
Thrust at launch: 109,000 lbs
Payload to low Earth orbit: 3,000 lbs
Maximum payload range: low Earth orbit RS 1 Builder: CAS Space
Nation: China
Customer: Commercial
Thrust at launch: Undisclosed
Payload to low Earth Orbit:
More than 2,200 lbs
Maximum Payload Range: Undisclosed ZK-1A
Builder: CAS Space
Nation: China
Customer: Commercial
Thrust at launch: Undisclosed
Payload to low Earth Orbit: More than 7,000 lbs
Maximum Payload Range: Undisclosed ZK-2 No Photo Available Builder: China Academy of Launch Vehicles
Nation: China
Customer: Commercial
Thrust at launch: Undisclosed
Payload to low Earth Orbit:
More than 3,000l bs
Maximum Payload Range: Undisclosed SD-3