This eBook explores the basic functions of a launch vehicle and offers examples of historically significant or currently operational rockets used to place objects into outer space. Special emphasis is given to past, current, and future American space launch vehicles, including the mighty Saturn V Moon rocket, NASA’s Space Shuttle fleet, the contemporary Delta IV and Atlas V launch vehicles, and NASA’s new Space Launch Vehicle (SLV). Readers will explore two famous rocket engineers who helped transform the use of powerful rockets into space launch vehicles: German-American Wernher von Braun (1912‒77) and Russian Korolev (1907-1966).