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Space Launch Vehicles
Posted by
vkthakur
on
Sunday, November 27, 2005 (EST)
A comparison matrix of contemporary space launch vehicles of the world. Includes launchers under development.
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Launcher
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LEO Payload (Tons)
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Polar Orbit Payload (Tons)
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GTO Payload (Tons)
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Cost (Million $)
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Lunar Mission (Tons)
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Remarks
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Angara 1.1
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2.0
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The Angara family of launchers will be ready by 2010
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Angara 1.2
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3.7
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Angara A3
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14
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2.4/3.7
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Using Briz-M/KVSK third stage
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Angara A5
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24.5
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5.7/7.3
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Using Briz-M/KVSK third stage
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Ares 1
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25
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Ares 5
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130
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65
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Ariane 5
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18
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9.50
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6.80
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105.00
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Ariane 5 ECA
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10.00
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Ariane 5 ES ATV
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21.00
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The maiden flight of the Ariane 5 ES ATV is planned for 2006 with the first ATV mission to the ISS
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Atlas 5 Baseline Intermediate
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20.00
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5.00
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The baseline Atlas V intermediate configuration uses the Common Core Booster(TM) and the Centaur upper stage developed for the Atlas IIIB.
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Atlas 5 Heavy
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6.50
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Uses three Common Core Boosters_ coupled together.
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Delta IV Medium
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4.23
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The Delta IV is composed of five vehicle configurations based on a common booster core (CBC) first stage powered by the RS-68 engine. Delta IV second stages are derived from the Delta III second stage, using the same RL10B-2 engine, but with two sizes of expanded fuel and oxidizer tanks, depending on the model.
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Delta IV Medium + (4,2)
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10.45
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5.85
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The Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) vehicle uses a single CBC powered by an RS-68 engine, and a four-meter second stage and fairing plus two GEMs.
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Delta IV Medium + (5,2)
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10.43
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4.64
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100.00
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Uses a single CBC powered by an RS-68 engine and a five-meter second stage. It is augmented by two solid rocket strap-on graphite epoxy motors (GEMs).
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Delta IV Medium + (5,4)
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11.48
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6.57
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110.00
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Uses a single CBC powered by an RS-68 engine and a five-meter second stage. It is augmented by four solid rocket strap-on graphite epoxy motors (GEMs).
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Delta IV (Heavy)
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12.80
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The Delta IV Heavy consists of three CBCs joined together in parallel, each with its own RS-68 engine, and uses a five-meter second stage and fairing.
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Energia
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100.00
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20.00
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32
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GSLV
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8.00
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2.50
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GSLV 3
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10.00
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4.00
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Long March 2F
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9.20
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3.37
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Long March 5
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25.00
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First launch expected in 2015
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Proton
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22.00
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4.70
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Three stage versions of the Proton are used for launching 20 ton payloads into LEO. Four stage versions are used for launching 4.70 ton payloads into GTO
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PSLV
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3.00
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1.00
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0.45
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Soyuz
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7.00
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1.70
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15.00
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Soyuz 2
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3.00
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Shuttle / SRB
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23.50
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5.90
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Vega
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2.00
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The first launch is planned for 2007 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana
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Zenit
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13.74
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11.38
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4.30
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65.00
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Falcon 1
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0.570
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N/A
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N/A
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6.7
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The first privately funded space launch vehicle developed by SpaceX is slated for launch in Feb 2006
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