The reliability of an intelligent self tuning controller called the brain emotional learning based intelligent controller (BELBIC) to attitude control of a nonlinear launch vehicle (LV) simulation with hardware-in-the loop simulation (HILS) is studied. To set up the HIL system of the LV a six-degree of freedom simulation of the LV and a hydraulic actuator, which was used for the pitch channel thrust vector control (TVC) actuator of the LV, is performed. The results of the BELBlC controller with a fuzzy controller (FC) and a PID controller in this HILS of the LV to control the pitch channel of the LV have been compared.