Comparison of orbital launchers families
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
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This page contains a list of orbital launchers' families. To see the long complete list of launch systems, see Comparison of orbital launch systems.
Description
- Family: Name of the family/model of launcher
- Country: Origin country of launcher
- Manufac.: Main manufacturer
- Mass: Maximum mass of payload, for 3 altitudes
- LEO (Low Earth Orbit)
- GTO (Geostationary transfer orbit)
- TLI (Trans Lunar Injection)
- Cost: Price for a launch at this time, in millions of US$
- Total launches: flights which lift-off, or where the vehicle is destroyed during the terminal count
-
- note: only includes orbital launches (flights launched with the intention of reaching orbit). Suborbital tests launches are not included in this listing.
- Launches reaching space (regardless of outcome)
- Launches reaching any orbit, regardless of outcome
- Launches reaching the target orbit, without damage to the payload
- Status: Actual status of launcher (retired, development, active)
- First flight: Year of first flight of first family's member
- Last Flight: Year of Last flight (for vehicles retired from service)
- Refs: citations
Same cores are grouped together (like Ariane 1, 2 & 3, but not V).
List of launchers families
[Active] - [In development] - [Retired] - [Has flown but new version in dev.]
| Family | Country | Manufac. | LEO payload (kg) |
GTO payload (kg) |
TLI payload (kg) |
Cost US$ (Millions) |
Total launches |
Launches reaching space |
Launches reaching any orbit |
Launches reaching target orbit |
Status | First flight |
Last flight |
Refs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angara 1.2 |  Russia |
Khrunichev | 3,800 | -- | -- | 25 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | Active | 2014 | -- | [1][2][3] | As of 2014, only launch was suborbital[4] |
| Angara A3, A5 |
Russia |
Khrunichev | 14,600 to 35000 |
3,600 to 12500 |
-- | -- | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Active | 2014 | -- | [1][5] | proposed future versions of Angara family |
| Antares |  USA |
Orbital Sciences | 6,000 | -- | -- | -- | 5 | 4 | 4 | Active | 2013 | -- | [6][7] | Cygnus launcher | |
| Ariane 1-2-3 |  Europe |
Aérospatiale | -- | 2,650 | -- | -- | 28 | Retired | 1979 | 1989 | [8][9] | ||||
| Ariane 4 | Europe |
Aérospatiale | 7,000 | 4,720 | -- | -- | 116 | -- | -- | Retired | 1988 | 2003 | [9] | Var: 2P,2L,4P,4L,2P2L | |
| Ariane 5 | Europe |
Airbus | 21,000 | 9,600 | -- | 220 | 76 | 74 | 74 | 72 | Active | 1996 | -- | [10][11] | Var: ECA,ES,G,G+,GS. ME and ES Galileo in dev. |
| Ariane 6 | Europe |
Airbus Safran | -- | 10,500 | -- | 115 | -- | -- | -- | -- | Devel. | 2020 | -- | Var: Ariane 62 & Ariane 64. | |
| ASLV |  India |
ISRO | 150 | -- | -- | -- | 4 | -- | -- | Retired | 1987 | 1994 | [12] | ||
| Athena I & II | USA |
Lockheed ATK | 2,065 | -- | 295 | -- | 7 | -- | -- | Devel. | 1995 | 2001 | [13] | Launch Lunar Prospector[14] Ic & IIc currently in dev. |
|
| Atlas A-B-C-D-E-F-G Atlas I |
USA |
Lockheed | 5,900 | 2,340 | -- | -- | 514 | -- | -- | Retired | 1957 | 1997 | [15][16][17][18] | Launch Mercury. Atlas or Centaur upper stage. |
|
| Atlas II | USA |
Lockheed | 8,618 | 3,833 | -- | -- | 63 | 63 | 63 | Retired | 1991 | 2004 | [19][20][21] | ||
| Atlas III | USA |
Lockheed | 10,759 | 4,609 | -- | -- | 6 | 6 | 6 | Retired | 2003 | 2005 | [22][23] | variants: IIIA, IIIB | |
| Atlas V | USA |
ULA | 18,850 | 8,900 | 2,807 | -- | 30 | 30 | Active | 2002 | [24][25] | Launched Juno & New Horizons | |||
| Black Arrow |  UK |
RAE Westland | 132 | -- | -- | -- | 4 | 3 | Retired | 1969 | 1971 | [26] | |||
| Delta | USA |
Douglas | 3,848 | 1,312 | -- | -- | 186 | -- | -- | Retired | 1960 | 1989 | [27][28] | Launched Pioneer & Explorer probes. Variants : A, B, C, D, E, G, J, L, M, N, 300, 900, 1X00, 4X00, 2X00, 3X00, 5X00 |
|
| Delta II | USA |
ULA | 6,000 | 2,171 | 1,508 | 51 | 151 | Active | 1989[27] | -- | [29][30][27] | Launched Mars probes MGS to Phoenix Variants : 6000, 7000 and Heavy. |
|||
| Delta III | USA |
Boeing | 8,290 | 3,810 | -- | -- | 3 | 2 | 2 | Retired | 1998 | 2000 | [31][32] | ||
| Delta IV | USA |
ULA | 23,040 | 13,130 | 9,000 | -- | 18 | 18 | Active | 2002 | -- | [33] | Variants : S, M and Heavy. | ||
| Diamant |  France |
SEREB | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Retired | 1965 | 1975 | [citation needed] | ||||
| Dnepr |  Ukraine Russia |
Yuzhmash | 3,600 | -- | 750 | 14 | 17 | Active | 1999 | -- | [34][35] [full citation needed] |
||||
| Energia |  USSR |
NPO Energia | 100,000 | 240 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Retired | 1987 | 1988 | [36][citation needed] | 1 partial failure with Polyus spacecraft, 1 successful flight with Buran spacecraft. | ||
| Epsilon |  Japan |
IHI Corporation | 1,200 | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Active | 2013 | -- | [37][38] | |
| Falcon 1 & 1e | USA |
SpaceX | 420[39] | -- | -- | 7.9[39] | 5[40] | 4[39] | 2[39] | 2[40] | Retired[39] | 2006 | 2009 | v1 superseded by 1e version | |
| Falcon 9 v1.0, v1.1, FT |
USA |
SpaceX | 22,800 | 8,300 | -- | 61.2 | 23 Wiki | 22 | 22 | 22 Wiki | Active | 2010 | -- | [41][42] | upgrade to version 1.1 in 2013; upgrade to version FT in 2015 Launcher of Dragon capsule * note: One flight put primary but not secondary payload into correct orbit[43] |
| Falcon Heavy | USA |
SpaceX | 54,400 | 22,200 | -- | 80-125 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | Devel. | -- | -- | [44][45] | Demo expected for 2016 |
| GSLV Mk.I & II | India |
ISRO | 5,000 | 2,500 | -- | -- | 8 | 6 | 5 | 3 | Active | 2001 | -- | [46][47][48] | |
| GSLV Mk.III (LVM3) | India |
ISRO | 8,000 | 4,000 | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 0 | -- | Devel. | 2014 | 2014 | [49] | First Experimental Flight (suborbital) with passive cryogenic upper stage successful [50] |
| H-I | Japan |
Mitsubishi | 3,200 | -- | -- | 9 | 9 | Retired | 1986 | 1992 | [51] | license-built version of the Thor-ELT | |||
| H-II, IIA & IIB | Japan |
Mitsubishi | 19,000 | 8,000 | -- | -- | 28 | 26 | Active | 1994 | -- | [52] | Var:. A202,A2022,A2024,A204,B | ||
| Haas |  Romania |
ARCA | 400 | -- | -- | 0 | -- | -- | -- | Devel. | -- | -- | [53] | Launch from balloon | |
| J-I | Japan |
IHI Corporation Nissan Motors | 880 | -- | -- | -- | 1 | Retired | 1996 | 1996 | [citation needed] | Partial demo flight only | |||
| Kosmos | USSR |
Yuzhnoye Polyot | 1,500 | -- | -- | 12 | 610 | -- | -- | 559 | Retired | 1967 | 2010 | [54][11][55] | Var: 1, 3, 3M |
| Kaituozhe-1 |  China |
CALT | -- | -- | -- | Retired | 2002 | 2003 | [citation needed] | ||||||
| Lambda 4S | Japan |
Nissan ISAS | -- | -- | -- | Retired | 1966 | 1970 | [citation needed] | ||||||
| Long March 1 | China |
CALT | 740 | 440 | -- | -- | 6 | -- | -- | Retired | 1970 | 2002 | [56][57][58] | Var: 1, 1D | |
| Long March 2-3-4 | China |
CALT | 12,000 | 5,500 | 3,300 | -- | 167 | 158 | -- | -- | Active | 1971 | -- | [59] | Ascends of ICBMs DF-5 Var: 2A,2C,2D,2E,2F,3,3A,3B,3C,4,4B 2F Launcher of Shenzhou |
| Long March 5 | China |
CALT | 25,000 | 14,000 | -- | -- | 0 | -- | -- | -- | Devel. | -- | -- | [60][61] | Var: 200,320,504,522,540 |
| Long March 6 | China |
CALT | 1,500 | -- | -- | -- | 0 | -- | -- | -- | Devel. | -- | -- | [62] | |
| Long March 7 | China |
CALT | 20,000 | -- | -- | -- | 0 | -- | -- | -- | Devel. | -- | -- | [63] | |
| MCT | USA |
SpaceX | -- | -- | -- | 0 | -- | -- | -- | Devel. | -- | -- | [64] | Expected in the mid-2020s | |
| Minotaur I | USA |
Orbital Sciences | 580 | -- | -- | -- | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | Active | 2000 | -- | [65][66] | Derived from the Minuteman II |
| Minotaur IV & V | USA |
Orbital Sciences | 1,735 | 640 | 447 | 50 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | Active | 2010 | -- | [65][67] | Also 2 suborbital launches (HTV-2a). Variants: IV, IV Lite, IV HAPS, V. Derived from Peacekeeper missile |
| Mu 1-3-4 | Japan |
Nissan Motor IHI | 770 | -- | -- | -- | 27 | -- | -- | Retired | 1966 | 1995 | [68] | Var: 1, 3D, 4S, 3C, 3H, 3S, 3SII | |
| Mu 5 | Japan |
Nissan Motor IHI | 1,800 | -- | -- | -- | Retired | 1997 | 2006 | [citation needed] | Var: M-V, M-V KM | ||||
| N1 | USSR |
NPO Energia | 90,000 | -- | 23,500 | -- | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Retired | 1969 | 1972 | [69] | Designed for Soviet Manned Lunar Mission |
| N-I & II | Japan |
Mitsubishi | 2,000 | 730 | -- | -- | 15 | -- | -- | Retired | 1975 | 1987 | [70] | Derived from the American Delta rocket | |
| Naro |  South Korea |
Khrunichev KARI | 100 | -- | -- | -- | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Active | 2009 | -- | [71] | |
| Pegasus | USA |
Orbital Sciences | 450 | -- | -- | -- | 40 | -- | -- | Active | 1990 | -- | [72] | ||
| UR-500 Proton | USSR Russia |
Khrunichev | 23,000 | 6,920 | 5,680 | -- | 399 | 353 | -- | Active | 1965 | -- | [73][74] | Var: M, K | |
| PSLV | India |
ISRO | 3,800 | 1,300 | -- | -- | 29[75] | 28[75] | 28[75] | 28[75] | Active | 1993 | [76][75] | Var: CA, XL, HP, 3S Launched moon probe Chandrayaan I, Mars probe Mangalyaan I |
|
| UR-100N Rokot Strela | Russia |
Eurockot Khrunichev | 2,100 | -- | -- | -- | 25 | 23 | 23 | Active | 1994 | -- | [77][78][79][80] | 23 launches of Rockot; 2 launches of Strela | |
| Safir |  Iran |
ISA | 50 | -- | -- | -- | 4 | 4 | Active | 2007 | -- | [81] | |||
| Saturn I & IB | USA |
Chrysler Douglas | 18,600 | -- | -- | 19 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | Retired | 1961 | 1975 | [82][83] | Saturn 1 family also included 6 suborbital test launches |
| Saturn V | USA |
Boeing North American Douglas | 118,000 | -- | 47,000 | 185 | 13 | 13 | 13 | Retired | 1967 | 1973 | [82][84][85] | Var: Apollo, Skylab | |
| Scout | USA |
US Air Force NASA | 210 | -- | -- | -- | 125 | 104 | -- | -- | Retired | 1960 | 1994 | [86] | Var: X1, X2, A, D, G |
| Shavit |  Israel |
IAI | 225 | -- | -- | 15 | 8 | -- | -- | Active | 1988 | -- | [87] | Var: Shavit, -1, -2 | |
| R-29 Shtil Volna | Russia |
Makeyev | 430 | -- | -- | -- | 8 | -- | -- | Active | 1995 | 2006 | [88] | Var: Vysota, Volna, Shtil, 2.1, 2R, 3 | |
| R-7 Semyorka Soyuz | USSR Russia |
RSC Energia TsSKB-Progress | 5,500 | 2,400 | 1,200 | -- | 1,854 | -- | -- | Active | 1957 | -- | [89] | Var: Sputnik, Luna, Vostok-L, Vostok-K, Voskhod, Molniya, Molniya-L, Molniya-M, Polyot, Soyuz, Soyuz-L, Soyuz-M, Soyuz-U, Soyuz-FG, Soyuz-2 | |
| Simorgh | Iran |
ISA | 100 | -- | -- | -- | 0 | -- | -- | -- | Devel. | -- | -- | [90] | |
| SLS | USA |
Alliant Lockheed | 130,000 | -- | -- | -- | 0 | -- | -- | -- | Devel. | -- | -- | [91] | Expected 2017 |
| SLV | India |
ISRO | 40 | -- | -- | -- | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | Retired | 1979 | 1983 | [92] | Launched Rohini satellite series |
| STS Space Shuttle |
USA |
Alliant Martin Marietta Rockwell | 24,400 | 3,810 | -- | 450 | 135 | 134 | 134 | 133 | Retired | 1981 | 2011 | [93] | Orbiter mass: 68585 kg. |
| Start-1 | Russia |
MITT | 532 | -- | -- | -- | 7 | 6 | Active | 1993 | 2006 | [94] | |||
| Taurus | USA |
Orbital Sciences | 1,450 | -- | -- | -- | 9 | 9 | Active | 1989 | -- | [95] | Var:2110, 3110, 3210 | ||
| Thor | USA |
Douglas | 1,270 | -- | 38 | -- | 357 | -- | -- | Retired | 1957 | 1980 | [28] | Launched Pioneer & Explorer probes | |
| Titan I-II-III-IV | USA |
Martin Marietta | 21,900 | 5,773 | 8,600 | 350 | 369 | -- | -- | Retired | 1959 | 2005 | [96][97] | Var: I, II, IIIA, IIIB, IIIC, IIID, IIIE, 34D, IVA, IVB Gemini launcher |
|
| R-36 Tsyklon | USSR Ukraine |
Yuzhmash | 4,100 | -- | -- | -- | 259 | -- | -- | Active | 1967 | 2009 | [98] | Var: 1, 2, 3. Tsyklon 4 in dev. | |
| Unified Launch Vehicle | India |
ISRO | 15,000 | 6,200 | -- | -- | 0 | -- | -- | -- | Devel. | -- | -- | [99] | Var: 6S12, 2S60, 2S138, 2S200 |
| Unha |  North Korea |
KCST | 100 | -- | -- | -- | 3 | 1 | 1 | ? | Active | 2006 | -- | [100] | Variants: Paektusan based on Taepodong-1 missile; Unha based on TaepoDong-2 missile. |
| Vanguard | USA |
Martin | 23 | -- | -- | -- | 12 | -- | 3 | Retired | 1957 | 1959 | [101] | ||
| Vega | Europe |
ESA ASI Avio | 2,300 | -- | -- | 23 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | Active | 2012 | -- | [102] | |
| VLS-1 |  Brazil |
CTA | 380 | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 0 | 0 | Active | 1997 | 2003 | [103] | Var in dev: Alfa, VLM | |
| Zenit | USSR Ukraine Russia |
Yuzhnoye | 13,740 | 6,160 | 4,098 | -- | 82 | 71 | 69 | Active | 1985 | -- | [104] | Var: 2, 2M, 2SLB, 3SL, 3SLB, 3SLBF |
See also
- Comparison of orbital launch systems
- Comparison of orbital rocket engines
- Comparison of space station cargo vehicles
- List of orbital launch systems
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ The market for launching small satellite in Russia...
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Peter B. de Selding, "Russia’s Angara 1.2 Rocket Succeeds in Inaugural Flight, Khrunichev Says", Space News, Jul. 9, 2014 (accessed 22 Sept 2014)
- ↑ http://www.russianspaceweb.com/angara5_flight1.html Angara-5 takes to the sky
- ↑ Perfs and launches of Antares, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Antares Mission History
- ↑ Ariane 1-2-3 family, ESA
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 List of perfs and launches of Ariane 1-4, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ list of perfs and launches of Ariane 5, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 FAA Semi- Annual Launch Report
- ↑ ASLV page, Astronautix
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Perfs and Launches of Atlas G-Centaur, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Perfs and Launches of Atlas family, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Perfs and Launches of Atlas I, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Spaceflight Now, Atlas IIAS (accessed 24 Sept 2014)
- ↑ Perfs and Launches of Atlas II AS, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Tariq Malik "Final Atlas 2 Rocket Orbits Classified U.S. Satellite", Space News, August 31, 2004 (Accessed 24 Sept 2014)
- ↑ Space Launch Report: Atlas III Data Sheet (accessed 24 Sept. 2014)
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Perfs and launch of Thor family, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Thor
- ↑ Full perfs of Delta Family, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Perfs and launches of Delta 7925h, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Delta 3 on Encyclopedia Astronautica, Astronautix
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Delta IV Heavy Delta IV
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Dnepr
- ↑ Russian Space Web, Energia page. Accessed 21 September 2010
- ↑ JAXA pages: Epsilon Design E, and Result E
- ↑ JAXA, Epsilon E press package
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 Encyclopedia Astronautica Falcon1
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ ISRO GSLV
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Kosmos 3M page on Encyclopedia Astronautica
- ↑ 165 launches / 21 failures, List of Kosmos /2 launches, of Delta Family, SkyRocket.de, 445 launches / 30 failures, List of Kosmos 1/3, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ CZ-1D page on Encyclopedia Astronautica
- ↑ CZ-1
- ↑ List of retired launchers, Encyclopedia Astronautica
- ↑ Full perfs and launches of Long-March DF-5 family, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ CZ-6
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ 65.0 65.1 Orbital Sciences, Minotaur History
- ↑ Orbital Sciences, Minotaur-1 Overview (accessed 25 September 2014)]
- ↑ Orbital Sciences, Minotaur IV-V-VI Overview (accessed 25 September 2014)]
- ↑ M-Class
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Circumlunar probe launched by Proton-K/D.
- ↑ 75.0 75.1 75.2 75.3 75.4 PSLV, Skyrocket.de
- ↑ PSLV Details, ISRO
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Perfs and Launches of Rockot family, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Perfs and Launches of Strela family, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Russian Strela Launches Kondor Satellite (retrieved 24 Sept 2014)
- ↑ Perfs and Launches of Safir family, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ 82.0 82.1 NASA, Saturn launch vehicles (PDF)
- ↑ Perfs and launches of Saturn I family, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Perfs and launches of Saturn V family, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ The Space Shuttle Decision- Chapter 6: ECONOMICS AND THE SHUTTLE
- ↑ Scout
- ↑ Shavit page on Encyclopedia Astronautica
- ↑ Perfs and launches of Shtil Volna, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Perfs and launches of R7 family, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Perfs and launches of Simorgh, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ SLS fact sheet, PDF, Nasa website
- ↑ Claude Lafleur, SLV / Indian Launch Vehicle, Spacecraft Encyclopedia (accessed Sept 25 2014)
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ List of launches of Start-1, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Perfs and launches of Taurus, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ List of launches of all Titan, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Perfs and launches of Titan IV family, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ List of launches of tsiklon, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ http://www.indiandefensenews.in/2014/10/isros-unified-launch-vehicle-ulv.html
- ↑ "North Korea Successfully Launches Satellite: Reports", SPACE.com, December 12, 2012 (accessed 24 Sept. 2014)
- ↑ Vanguard Page on Encyclopedia Astronautica. Vanguard 3 satellite was 23 kg
- ↑ Space Launch Report: New Launchers - ESA VEGA
- ↑ Perfs and launches of VLS-1, SkyRocket.de
- ↑ Perfs and launches of Zenit family, SkyRocket.de
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