Longest-Serving Rockets for NASA Cargo Missions

These launch vehicles have defined the era of commercial spaceflight, demonstrating unmatched success rates in delivering heavy payloads to low Earth orbit.

The top 3

1. Falcon 9: The Modern Workhorse: The Falcon 9 holds the record for the most successful orbital launches in a single calendar year, serving as the primary vehicle for both cargo and crew missions. Falcon 9
2. Antares: The Dedicated Lifter: Developed specifically to launch the Cygnus spacecraft, the Antares rocket has been a cornerstone of NASA's commercial resupply program since 2013. Antares
3. Atlas V: The Heritage Heavy: While transitioning toward retirement, the Atlas V has provided heavy-lift reliability for numerous high-priority NASA and commercial payloads over the last two decades. Atlas V

Sources

• NASA Launch Services

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