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Comparison of medium lift launch systems

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List of launch systems capable of lifting to LEO a payload from 2,000 kg[1] to 20,000 kg.[1]

Launch systems capable of lifting to LEO between 10,000 kg and 20,000 kg are classified as "mid-heavy" subcategory of the "medium" class.[citation needed]

Retired, Operational and Under development

In the table below, systems that have not yet conducted a successful launch are listed in italics.

Legend for below table:   [under development] — [retired or canceled] — [operational or available]

Rocket Country Manufacturer Mass to
LEO
(kg) 		Mass to
GTO
(kg) 		Cost
(Mil US$) 		Cost/kg
(LEO) 		Launch successes
[2][note 1] 		Launch attempts
[2][note 2] 		Current Status First launch
[note 3] 		Last launch
[note 4]
Angara 1.2  Russia Khrunichev 3,800[3] 0 0 Development
since 1995
Angara A3  Russia Khrunichev 14,600[3] 2,400-3,600[3] €50 million[4] 0 0 Development
since 1995
Ariane 1  Europe Arianespace 1,400 1,830 9 11 Retired 1979 1986
Ariane 2  Europe Arianespace 2,270 5 6 Retired 1986 1989
Ariane 3  Europe Arianespace 2,650 10 11 Retired 1984 1989
Ariane 4 40-44L  Europe Arianespace 5,000 - 7,600[citation needed] 113 116 Retired 1990 2003
Ariane 5 G (5G,5G+,5GS)  Europe EADS Astrium[note 5] 18,000[5] 6,600—7,100 [6] 22 25[7] Retired[8] 1996 2009
Atlas G  United States Lockheed 3,630 2,255 5 7 Retired 1984 1989
Atlas H  United States Lockheed 3,630 2,255 5 5 Retired 1983 1987
Atlas I  United States Lockheed Martin 3,630 2,255 5 8 Retired 1990 1997
Atlas II/A/AS  United States Lockheed Martin Retired 1991 2004
Atlas IIIA  United States Lockheed Martin 8,640 4,055 2 2 Retired 2000 2004
Atlas IIIB  United States Lockheed Martin[note 6] 10,218[citation needed] 4,500[citation needed] Retired 2002 2005
Atlas V 401  United States United Launch Alliance 9,800[9] 4,951[citation needed] 9 10 Operational 2002 2011
Atlas V 501  United States United Launch Alliance 3,971 2 2 Operational 2010 2011
Atlas V 402-431/502-552  United States Lockheed Martin[note 6] 12,500 - 20,500[10] 5,951 - 8,672[10] 24 25[7] Operational 2003 2011
Delta 4925  United States McDonnell Douglas 3,400 1,200 2 2 Retired 1989 1990
Delta 5920  United States McDonnell Douglas 3,848[citation needed] N/A 1 1
[citation needed] 		Retired 1989 1989
Delta II 6920/6925  United States McDonnell Douglas 17 17
[citation needed] 		Retired 1989 1992
Delta II 7000  United States United Launch Alliance 123 125 Operational
[note 7] 		1990 2011
Delta II 7920H  United States United Launch Alliance 1,816 N/A 2 2 Operational
[note 7] 		2003 2011
Delta II 7925H  United States United Launch Alliance 5,089 1,818 3 3 Operational
[note 7] 		2003 2009
Delta III 8930  United States Boeing 8,290[citation needed] 3,810[citation needed] 1 3 Retired 1998 2000
Delta IVM 9040  United States United Launch Alliance 8,120 4,210 3 3 Operational 2003 2006
Delta IVM+(5,2) 9250  United States United Launch Alliance 7,980 4,640 0 0 available 2012
Delta IVM+(4,2) 9240  United States Boeing IDS[note 6] 11,750[11] 5,740[11] 6 6[citation needed] Operational 2002 2011
Delta IVM+(5,4) 9450  United States Boeing IDS[note 6] 13,500[11] 6,470[11] 1 1[12] Operational 2009 2009
Dnepr-1  Ukraine Yuzhmash €10 million.[4] 15 16 Operational 1999 2010
Falcon 9  United States SpaceX 010,450[13][14]Template:Smn 04,680[13]Template:Smn 000056[13]Template:Smn 005,359Template:Smn[note 8] 2 2[15] Operational 2010 2010
PSLV  India Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) 3,200[16] 1,050 9 10 Operational 1993 2011
PSLV-CA  India Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) 2,800[16] 1,600 6 6 Operational 2007 2010
PSLV-XL  India Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) 3,800 1,800[16] 2 2 Operational 2008 2011
PSLV-HP  India Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) 4,200 2,000[16] 0 0 Development
since 2007 		2011
GSLV Mk.I(a)  India Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) 5,100 1,500 2 2
[citation needed] 		Retired
[citation needed] 		2001 2003
GSLV Mk.I(b)  India Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) 1,900 2 3 Retired
[citation needed] 		2004 2007
GSLV Mk.II  India Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) 5,500[citation needed] 2500[17] 0 1 Operational 2010 2010
GSLV III  India ISRO[note 9] 4,500 - 5,000[18] 0 0 Development 2012[19]
H-I  Japan Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 3,200 1,100 9 9 Retired 1986 1992
H-II  Japan Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 10,060[citation needed] 3,930[citation needed] 5 7[citation needed] Retired 1994 1999
H-IIA  Japan Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 10,000 — 15,000[citation needed] 4,100 — 6,000[citation needed] 17 18[7] Operational 2001 2010
H-IIB  Japan Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 19,000[20] 8,000[21] 2 2[7] Operational 2009 2011
Long March 2C  China CALT 2,400 32 32 Operational 1975 2008
Long March 2D  China CALT 3,500 14 14 Operational 1992 2008
Long March 2E  China CALT 9,200[citation needed] 3,370[citation needed] 5 7 Retired 1990 1995
Long March 2F  China CALT 8,400 3,370 7 7 Operational 1999 2008
Long March 3  China CALT 5,000[citation needed] 1,340[citation needed] 11 14 Retired 1984 2000
Long March 3A  China CALT 8,500[citation needed] 2,300[citation needed] 17 17
[citation needed] 		Operational 1994 2007
Long March 3C  China CALT 3,700 4 4
[citation needed] 		Operational 2008 2010
Long March 4A  China CALT 4,000[citation needed] 2 2
[citation needed] 		Retired 1988 1990
Long March 4B  China CALT 4,200 1,500 11 11
[citation needed] 		Operational 1999 ?
Long March 4C  China CALT 4,200 1,500 4 4
[citation needed] 		Operational 2007 2009
Long March 2F/G  China China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology[note 10] 0 0 Development
Long March 3B(3B,3B/E)  China China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology[note 10] 12,000 5,500 7 9 Operational 1996 ?
Long March 3B(A)  China China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology[note 10] 0 0 Development
Molniya  Soviet Union RSC Energia Retired 1960 1964
Molniya-M  Soviet Union
 Russia 		RSC Energia 254 275 Retired 1964 2010
N-II  Japan Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 2,000 730 8 8 Retired 1981 1987
Saturn I  United States Chrysler (S-I)
Douglas (S-IV) 		9,000[citation needed] 10 10
[citation needed] 		Retired 1961 1965
Soyuz  Soviet Union RSC Energia 6,450 28 30 Retired 1966 1975
Soyuz-L  Soviet Union RSC Energia 5,500 3 3 Retired 1970 1971
Soyuz-M  Soviet Union RSC Energia 6,600 8 8
[citation needed] 		Retired 1971 1976
Soyuz-U  Soviet Union
 Russia 		TsSKB-Progress 6200–6700 kg from Plesetsk)
6590-6950 from Baikonour[22] 		696 715
[citation needed] 		Operational 1973 2011
Soyuz-U2  Soviet Union
 Russia 		TsSKB-Progress 7,050[citation needed] 64 66
[citation needed] 		Retired 1982 1995
Soyuz-FG  Russia TsSKB-Progress 6790–7130 kg[23] 31 31
[citation needed] 		Operational 2001 2011
Soyuz-2.1a/b/v  Russia TsSKB-Progress 2,800 - 7,800[citation needed] 1,700 7 7
[note 11] 		Operational 2004 2011
Soyuz-2 ST/STK  Russia[note 12] TsSKB-Progress 7,800 3,000 0 0
[note 11] 		Development 2011
Taurus II  United States Orbital Sciences 6,000[24] 1,900[24] 0 0 Development
since 2008 		2011
Titan II GLV  United States Martin Marietta 3,600[citation needed] 12 12
[note 11] 		Retired 1964 1966
Titan II 23G  United States Martin Marietta 3,175[citation needed] 12 13
[citation needed] 		Retired 1988 2003
Titan IIIA  United States Martin Marietta 3,100[citation needed] 3 4
[citation needed] 		Retired 1964 1965
Titan IIIB  United States Martin Marietta 3,000[citation needed] 68 70 Retired 1966 1987
Titan IIIC/D/E/34D  United States Martin Marietta 12,300 — 15,400[citation needed] 3,000 — 5,000[citation needed] 71 80 Retired 1965 1989
Commercial Titan III  United States Martin Marietta 14,515[citation needed] 1,850[citation needed] Retired 1990 1992
Titan IVA  United States Martin Marietta Retired 1989 1998
Tsyklon  Soviet Union Yuzhmash 3,000[citation needed] 7 8 Retired 1967 1969
Tsyklon-2  Soviet Union
 Ukraine 		Yuzhmash 2,820[citation needed] 105 106
[citation needed] 		Retired 1969 2006
Tsyklon-3  Soviet Union
 Ukraine 		Yuzhmash 4,100[citation needed] 114 122
[citation needed] 		Retired 1977 2009
Tsyklon-4  Ukraine Yuzhnoye 5,500[citation needed] 1,700[citation needed] 0 0 Development
since 2002
Voskhod  Soviet Union RSC Energia 5,900[citation needed] 287 300
[citation needed] 		Retired 1963 1976
Vostok-L  Soviet Union RSC Energia 4,550[citation needed] 3 4 Retired 1960 1960
Vostok-K  Soviet Union RSC Energia 4,730[citation needed] 11 13
[citation needed] 		Retired 1960 1964
Vostok-2  Soviet Union RSC Energia 4,730[citation needed] 40 45 Retired 1962 1967
Vostok-2M  Soviet Union RSC Energia 92 93 Retired 1964 1991
Soyuz/Vostok  Soviet Union RSC Energia 4,500[citation needed] 2 2
[citation needed] 		Retired 1965 1966
Zenit-3SL  Ukraine Russia Yuzhmash
RKK Energia [note 13] 		6,100 5,250 €60 million[4] 27 30 Operational 1999 2009
Zenit-3SLB  Ukraine Russia Yuzhmash
RKK Energia [note 14] 		3,750 4 4 Operational 2008 2009
Zenit-3SLBF  Ukraine Russia Yuzhmash
NPO Lavochkin [note 14] 		1 1 Operational 2011 2011
Zenit-2  Soviet Union
 Ukraine 		Yuzhmash 13,740[25] 29 37[7] Retired 1985[26] 2004[26]
Zenit-2M (2SLB)  Ukraine Yuzhmash[note 14] 13,920[25] 1 1[citation needed] Operational 2007 2007
Rocket Country Manufacturer Mass to
LEO
(kg) 		Mass to
GTO
(kg) 		Cost
(Mil US$) 		Cost/kg
(LEO) 		Launch successes
[2][note 1] 		Launch attempts
[2][note 2] 		Current Status First launch
[note 3] 		Last launch
[note 4]

Proposed and design concepts

Previously proposed or in development medium heavy lift launch system were:

  • SpaceX Falcon 5 with 4,100 kg mass to LEO, previously proposed and later abandoned.[27]
  • Galaxy Express or GX-rocket, using US first stage and Japanese upper stage, 3,600 kg mass to LEO, cancelled in 2010 after Japanese government stopped funding the project.[28]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b The column launch successes is defined here as the number of times the launch vehicle achieved a desired orbit (e.g. payload separation orbit, final mission orbit, etc.) with the payload intact.
    Launches into a useless orbit (i.e., an orbit from which the payload is unable to operate) are excluded from success, as is the case of a launch in which the payload was destroyed before the launch vehicle achieved a desired orbit. Success of the launches is determined by the performance of the launch vehicle itself and classification is not affected by subsequent failures of other elements like payload separation failure, payload propulsion failure (not reaching a desired payload final orbit from the desired transfer orbit), other payload failures (including re-entry failures). Other definitions of launch success may result in different values for the launch success record (see notes where applicable).
  2. ^ a b The column launch attempts shows the total number of attempted launches including development and test launches, if the launcher is in its complete expected configuration (and sub-orbital launches if so noted), but pre-launch failures are not included.
  3. ^ a b The column first launch shows the year of the first attempted launch (for retired and operational launchers) or the first expected launch (for launch vehicles in development).
  4. ^ a b The column last launch shows the year of the final attempted launch (for retired launchers) or the latest attempted launch (for operational launchers).
  5. ^ Commercialization by Arianespace.
  6. ^ a b c d Commercialization by United Launch Alliance.
  7. ^ a b c No flights planned, but 5 unsold heavies could be used.
  8. ^ 11,966 $/kg to GTO.
  9. ^ Commercialization by Antrix Corporation.
  10. ^ a b c Commercialization by CASTC and CGWIC.
  11. ^ a b c Launch record numbers include sub-orbital flights.
  12. ^ Launched from European Space Agency spaceport in French Guiana.
  13. ^ Zenit utilized by Sea Launch.
  14. ^ a b c Zenit utilized by Land Launch.

References

  1. ^ a b NASA Space Technology Roadmaps - Launch Propulsion Systems, p.11: "Small: 0-2t payloads, Medium: 2-20t payloads, Heavy: 20-50t payloads, Super Heavy: >50t payloads"
  2. ^ a b c d Kyle, Ed (2008-04-28). "SPACE LAUNCH REPORT / ACTIVE LAUNCH VEHICLE RELIABILITY STATISTICS". Archived from the original on 2008-05-02.
  3. ^ a b c "Angaga Launch Vehicle Family". Khrunichev. Cite error: The named reference "khru_angara" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c European Space Directory 2006. Referenced in: Brian Harvey, The Rebirth of the Russian Space Program. p.296.
  5. ^ http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/ariane5.htm
  6. ^ http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau/ariane5.htm
  7. ^ a b c d e Space lauch report - launch success rates
  8. ^ Flight V193 was the seventh Ariane 5 launch of 2009 and used the last of the GS version of the launcher.
  9. ^ ULA Atlas V product page
  10. ^ a b Space launch report Atlas 5
  11. ^ a b c d Space launch report -Delta4
  12. ^ New communications craft launched for U.S. military, Spaceflight Now, 5 Dec 2009
  13. ^ a b c "FALCON 9 OVERVIEW". SpaceX.
  14. ^ "Falcon 9 Overview". Space Exploration Technologies. Retrieved 29 Oct 2010.
  15. ^ "Coverage of second Falcon-9 launch". Spaceflight Now.
  16. ^ a b c d "PSLV variants capability". ISRO. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  17. ^ ISRO GSLV Mark I & Mark II, Indian Space Research Organisation, 2008, accessed 2010-12-26.
  18. ^ "GSLV MK3 (LVM3)". ISRO. 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  19. ^ Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III, ISRO
  20. ^ "Development Plan for Future Mission from HTV System, P. 6 (Table 4 Cargo transfer capabilities)" (PDF). Jaxa. Retrieved 28 August 2008. [dead link]
  21. ^ "H-IIB Launch Vehicle, P. 2" (PDF). Jaxa. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  22. ^ "Soyuz-U" launch vehicle State Research and Production Space-Rocket Center "TsSKB-Progress"
  23. ^ "Soyuz-FG" launch vehicle State Research and Production Space-Rocket Center "TsSKB-Progress"
  24. ^ a b "Taurus II User's Manual, Rev. 1.3" (PDF). Orbital. April 2010. {{cite web}}: Text "accessed 2010-11-11" ignored (help)
  25. ^ a b Space launch report -zenit
  26. ^ a b Zenit launch log
  27. ^ Kyle, Ed (5 July 2010). "SpaceX Falcon Data Sheet". Space Launch Report. Retrieved 17 July 2010. By the time a revised Payload User's Guide was published in May 2007, Falcon 5 had disappeared from the company's catalog altogether.
  28. ^ http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3787500
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