Expendable launchers have been simple modifications of 1950s era ballistic missiles. Since the entire vehicle is discarded after launch, they may seem like an expensive launch method, but in practice they are cheaper than the space shuttle (see the shuttle article for a discussion of its economics). Most satellites are launched using expendable launchers because they are perceived as a having a low risk of mission failure, a short time to launch, and a relatively low cost.
Launchers in current use include:
Planned launchers include:
Historical launchers include: