LV NASA classification
The LV NASA classification is a classification of Launch Vehicle based on the LEO payload capability.
- Small-lift Launch Vehicle: this category comprehends all the rocket with a capability at liftoff smaller than 2,000 kg of payload into LEO. Some examples are Vega, Electron and LauncherOne.
- Medium-lift Launch Vehicle: this category comprehends all the rocket that are capable of lifting between 2,000 kg and 20,000 kg of payload into LEO. Some examples are PSLV, Atlas V and Long March 2D
- Heavy-lift Launch Vehicle: this category comprehends all the rocket with a capability at liftoff between 20,000 kg and 50,000 kg of payload into LEO. Some examples are Ariane 5, Delta IV Heavy and Long March 5B.
- Super-heavy-lift Launch Vehicle: this category comprehends all the rocket with a capability at liftoff greater than 50,000 kg of payload into LEO. Some under development examples are Long March 9, SLS Block and Starship. The most popular Super-heavy rocket is without a doubt Saturn V.
It exists another classification realized by the Russian Roscosmos. The Roscosmos classification has different values from the NASA one. All the values are reported in the table below.
| LV NASA classification | LV Roscosmos classification | |
| Small-lift LV | < 2,000 kg | < 5,000 kg |
| Medium-lift LV | 2,000 to 20,000 kg | 5,000 to 20,000 kg |
| Heavy-lift | 20,000 to 50,000 kg | 20,000 to 100,000 kg |
| Super-heavy-lift LV | > 50,000 kg | > 100,000 kg |