Super Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle

A super heavy-lift launch vehicle is a rocket that can lift a payload of 50 metric tons to low Earth orbit according to the United States, and more than 100 metric tons by Russia. It is the most capable launch vehicle classification by mass to orbit, exceeding that of the heavy-lift launch vehicle classification. Crewed lunar and interplanetary missions typically depend on super-heavy launch vehicles. Only 14 such payloads were successfully launched before 2022: 12 as part of the Apollo program before 1972 and two Energia launches, in 1987 and 1988.