Reusable Launch Vehicles, or RLV's, are space vehicles designed to perform multiple missions. 

RLV's, due to the fact that they are re-used, will dramatically reduce the cost of access to low earth orbit.  However, the technical challenges of designing a system to fly to orbit and return are monumental.  For example, the entire Saturn V rocket was expended while sending humans to the Moon.  On the other hand, the Space Shuttle, which transports astronauts to Low Earth Orbit and back, is reused over and over again.

A number of government research projects, most notably the X-33, X-34, X-37 and X-38, were initiated to develop and test new RLV technologies to reduce the risk of developing a next generation RLV.  At the same time, a number of entrepreneurial companies have developed their own RLV concepts in an effort to reduce launch costs and undercut established launch vehicle providers.

This section provides an overview of the RLV vehicles and technology demonstrators - both past and present.