A Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) is a spacecraft or booster stage that can be recovered, refurbished, and flown again after delivering a payload to space. By recovering expensive engines and airframes, operators drastically reduce the cost per kilogram to orbit. RLVs typically return via powered vertical landing or by gliding back to a runway.
We need to inspect the heat shield tiles before certifying this RLV for its next flight.
Related terms
Launch vehicle
A rocket or other system used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into space.
SSTO
A single-stage-to-orbit vehicle that reaches space without dropping hardware.
TSTO
Two-stage-to-orbit refers to a launch vehicle that uses two distinct propulsion stages to reach space.
VTVL
This acronym describes a vehicle that lifts off straight up and returns to the ground in the same upright orientation.