Comparison of heavy lift launch systems
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For this article, heavy lift launch systems are determined as being those capable of lifting at least 20,000 kg to low Earth orbit.
| Vehicle | Space Agency | Manufacturer | Mass to LEO (kg) |
Mass to GTO (kg) |
Cost (Mil US$) |
Cost/kg (LEO) |
Cost/kg (GTO) |
Record | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angara A5 |  RVSN/RSA |
Khrunichev | 24,500 | 6,600 | 0/0 | Development | |||
| Ares V |  NASA |
Alliant Techsystems TBD (Stage two) |
130,000 | 0/0 | Development | ||||
| Ariane 5 ECA |  ESA |
EADS Astrium | 21,000[1] | 9,600 [2] | 12/13 | Operational | |||
| Ariane 5 ES ATV | ESA |
EADS Astrium | 21,000[1] | 8,000 [2] | 1/1 | Operational | |||
| Delta IV Heavy | NASA |
United Launch Alliance | 22,950[3] | 12,980[3] | 1/2 | Operational | |||
| Energia |  RVSN |
NPO Energia | 30,000 - 98,000[4] | 1/2[5][6] [dubious ] |
Retired | ||||
| Falcon 9 Heavy | NASA |
SpaceX | 27,500[7] | 12,000[7] | 90[7] | 3,273 | 7,500 | 0/0 | Development |
| Long March 5 |  CNSA |
25,000[8] | 14,000[8] | 0/0 | Development | ||||
| N1 | RVSN |
NPO Energia | 70,000 | 0/4 | Retired | ||||
| Proton | / RVSN |
Khrunichev | 21,600 [9] | 6,000 | 85 [10] | 4,302 [10] | 18,359 [10] | 290/330 | Operational |
| Space Shuttle | NASA |
Thiokol (SRBs) Martin Marietta (ET) Rockwell International (Orbiter) |
24,400 | 3,810* | 300 [10] | 10,416 [10] | 50,874* [10] | 118/120[11] | Operational |
| Saturn V | NASA |
Boeing (S-IC) North American (S-II) Douglas (S-IVB) |
118,000 | 12/12 | Retired | ||||
| Saturn INT-21 | NASA |
Boeing (S-IC) North American (S-II) |
75,000 | 1/1 | Retired | ||||
| Titan IVB | NASA |
Lockheed Martin | 21,682[12] | 5,761[12] (9,000 with upper stage) |
250 - 350[12] | 11,530 - 13,836 | 43,395 - 60,753 | 15/17 | Retired |
- * - with upper stage
[edit] References
- ^ a b Ariane 5 Users Manual, Issue 4, P. 39 (ISS orbit). Arianespace. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
- ^ a b Ariane 5 ECA Overview. Arianespace. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
- ^ a b Delta Product Sheet, FINAL. United Launch Alliance. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
- ^ S.P.Korolev RSC Energia - LAUNCHERS. Energia.
- ^ Petrovitch, Vassili. Polyus Description.
- ^ Encyclopedia Astronautica - Energia
- ^ a b c FALCON 9 HEAVY OVERVIEW. SpaceX. Retrieved on 2007-11-11.
- ^ a b "New carrier rocket series to be built", CHINAdaily, 2007-10-31. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
- ^ Proton Launch System Mission Planner’s Guide, LKEB-9812-1990. International Launch Services. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
- ^ a b c d e f Space Transportation Costs: Trends in Price Per Pound to Orbit 1990-2000. Futron. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
- ^ Space Launch Report - Active Launch Vehicle Reliability Statistics
- ^ a b c Fact Sheet - TITAN IVB. United States Air Force. Retrieved on 2007-11-12.
