Launch Vehicle Comparison

The largest and most powerful rocket ever flown, designed for full and rapid reusability. Reached operational status in 2026: Flight 13 (July 24, 2026) deployed the first 20 Starlink V3 satellites, with the ship splashing down in the Indian Ocean (expended by design) and the booster lost during its landing burn; the first tower-catch attempt of the ship is planned for Flight 14. The cost figures shown are SpaceX's aspirational internal target at mature flight rates — a target, not an offered price. Intended to also enable Mars colonization, point-to-point Earth transport, and dramatically reduce cost per kg to orbit. See live launch data for current flight-rate and reliability figures rather than a fixed count here.

The most powerful operational rocket by payload capacity to LEO. Uses three Falcon 9 first-stage cores strapped together. Side boosters are routinely recovered; center core recovery has been demonstrated.

Blue Origin's orbital heavy-lift launch vehicle with a reusable first stage. Features the largest payload fairing in production at 7 meters diameter. Named after astronaut John Glenn. Successfully landed its first stage booster on the second flight in November 2025, but the third flight (NG-3, April 19, 2026) suffered a second-stage failure that lost AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7, and a pad explosion on May 28, 2026 destroyed another vehicle and damaged Launch Complex 36 — as of August 2026 the fleet is effectively grounded pending an engine fix.

ULA's next-generation launch vehicle replacing both Atlas V and Delta IV Heavy. Uses Blue Origin BE-4 methalox engines on the first stage and the proven Centaur V upper stage with RL-10C engines. Two flights have experienced GEM 63XL SRB anomalies while still reaching their intended orbits: the Cert-2 mission (October 2024, certified a success by ULA and the U.S. Space Force) and USSF-87 (February 12, 2026), after which the Space Force paused Vulcan national-security launches pending the SRB investigation. Designed for national security missions.

China's most powerful operational rocket, used for the Tianhe space station modules, Chang'e lunar missions, and Tianwen Mars probe. The Long March 5B variant is used for LEO heavy-lift.

Russia's new modular heavy-lift vehicle intended to replace the Proton-M. Built from Universal Rocket Modules (URMs). Unlike Proton, uses environmentally cleaner RP-1/LOX propellant. Launching from Vostochny Cosmodrome.

Russia's heavy-lift workhorse used primarily for GTO communications satellites and interplanetary missions. Uses hypergolic propellants throughout. Being phased out in favor of the Angara A5.

The workhorse of the global launch industry. First orbital-class rocket to achieve propulsive landing and routine reuse of the first stage. Dominates the global commercial launch market with 134 flights in 2024 and 165 in 2025. Boosters have been certified for up to 40 flights each. Block 5 variant first flew May 2018 (original Falcon 9 v1.0 debuted June 2010).

Europe's newest heavy-lift launcher replacing Ariane 5. Available in A62 (2 SRBs) and A64 (4 SRBs) configurations. The Vinci upper stage engine features a restart capability for complex mission profiles. First A64 variant launched in February 2026 with Amazon Kuiper satellites.

A medium-to-heavy lift reusable launch vehicle incorporating 3D-printed manufacturing. Following the retirement of Terran 1 after its test flight, Relativity shifted focus entirely to Terran R for the medium-lift reusable market.

One of the most reliable launch vehicles ever built: roughly 103 flights as of August 2026 with a single partial failure (NROL-30, June 2007) and an unbroken success streak since. Used Russian RD-180 engines. No new orders; flying out its remaining launches (primarily Amazon Kuiper) before retirement, succeeded by Vulcan Centaur.

Japan's next-generation flagship launch vehicle replacing the H-IIA. Features the expander-bleed cycle LE-9 engine, designed for improved reliability and reduced cost. Suffered a second-stage anomaly on its December 2025 flight after five consecutive successes.

Rocket Lab's medium-lift reusable launch vehicle, targeting the mega-constellation deployment market. Features a unique "Hungry Hippo" fairing design integrated into the first stage, Archimedes methalox engines, and propulsive landing capability. Maiden flight expected in 2026 from Wallops Island, Virginia.

China's primary GTO launch vehicle, used extensively for BeiDou navigation satellite deployment. Features four strap-on liquid boosters and a cryogenic third stage.

India's heaviest launch vehicle, used for Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission and OneWeb constellation deployment. Features indigenous CE-20 cryogenic upper stage engine. Also designated for the Gaganyaan crewed program.

The modern variant of the legendary R-7 derived Soyuz family, the most launched rocket design in history. Used for ISS crew transport (with Soyuz-2.1a for crewed flights), Glonass navigation, and commercial payloads.

China's newest medium-lift hybrid vehicle combining liquid core stage with solid strap-on boosters. Designed for SSO constellation deployment with high launch cadence.

India's highly reliable workhorse launcher with over 65 missions. Known for cost-effective rideshare and dedicated small satellite missions. Holds the record for deploying 104 satellites in a single mission (PSLV-C37).

China's highly reliable medium-lift workhorse, primarily used for Earth observation and SSO missions. Reached its 100th mission milestone in September 2025, one of the most frequently launched Chinese vehicles.

ESA's upgraded small-to-medium launch vehicle with improved performance over the original Vega. Uses the P120C solid motor shared with Ariane 6 as its first stage. Returned to flight in December 2024 after a two-year stand-down, completing four successful missions in 2025.

Japan's upgraded solid-fuel small satellite launcher, enhanced from the Epsilon series. Shares the SRB-3 booster with H3. Development delayed by a third-stage static fire test failure in 2023.

A small launch vehicle designed for dedicated small satellite missions. Uses tap-off cycle engines with carbon fiber composite structures. Also developing the medium-lift MLV in partnership with Northrop Grumman.

China's leading commercial small launch vehicle from Galactic Energy. One of the first privately developed Chinese rockets to reach orbit. Provides cost-effective dedicated small-sat access to SSO.

The leading dedicated small-satellite launcher, with 93 launches as of August 2026. Uses electric turbopump-fed engines and carbon composite structure. Rocket Lab achieved a record 21 Electron launches in 2025 with 100% mission success, cementing its position as the second most frequently launched US rocket.