The world's leading heavy-lift rockets - in pictures

  • Blue Origin is set to launch its heavy-lift New Glenn rocket on a debut mission on October 13, 2024. Blue Origin
    Blue Origin is set to launch its heavy-lift New Glenn rocket on a debut mission on October 13, 2024. Blue Origin
  • The New Glenn heavy-lift booster in front of Nasa's vehicle assembly building. Blue Origin
    The New Glenn heavy-lift booster in front of Nasa's vehicle assembly building. Blue Origin
  • A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Reuters
    A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Reuters
  • The Long March 5B is China's heavy-lift rocket. It has carried many large satellites, and the Tiangong modules, into space. AFP
    The Long March 5B is China's heavy-lift rocket. It has carried many large satellites, and the Tiangong modules, into space. AFP
  • A Proton-M booster rocket carrying the Nauka module for the International Space Station blasts off from the launch pad at Russia's space facility in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on July 21, 2021. Roscosmos via AP
    A Proton-M booster rocket carrying the Nauka module for the International Space Station blasts off from the launch pad at Russia's space facility in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on July 21, 2021. Roscosmos via AP
  • The Ariane 6 rocket lifts off on its debut flight on July 9, 2024, from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana. Arianespace
    The Ariane 6 rocket lifts off on its debut flight on July 9, 2024, from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana. Arianespace
  • United Launch Alliance's new rocket Vulcan Centaur lifts off from Florida on January 8, 2024, for its maiden voyage, carrying Astrobotic's Peregrine Lunar Lander. AFP
    United Launch Alliance's new rocket Vulcan Centaur lifts off from Florida on January 8, 2024, for its maiden voyage, carrying Astrobotic's Peregrine Lunar Lander. AFP
  • SpaceX's Starship rocket launches on a test flight on April 20, 2023. EPA / SpaceX
    SpaceX's Starship rocket launches on a test flight on April 20, 2023. EPA / SpaceX