Compare · Rockets
Delta IV Heavy vs Atlas V 521
RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT
#10 VS #55
CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026
Side by side
Verdict
Delta IV Heavy ranks #10 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (28,370 kg); Atlas V 521 ranks #55 (13,490 kg).
Rank 10 of 311 · leads
Payload to low Earth orbit
28,370 kg
Launches16
Success rate93.8%
Payload to GTO14,210 kg
First flight21 Dec 2004
Height72 m
Liftoff thrust8,674 kN
Launch mass733 t
Launch cost$350,000,000
ReusableNo
StatusRetired
Rank 55 of 311
Payload to low Earth orbit
13,490 kg
Launches2
Success rate100%
Payload to GTO6,475 kg
First flight17 Jul 2003
Height58.3 m
Liftoff thrust7,203 kN
Launch mass590 t
Launch cost$135,000,000
ReusableNo
StatusRetired
Try another pair
More Delta IV Heavy matchups
- Delta IV Heavy vs Saturn V
- Delta IV Heavy vs Starship V3
- Delta IV Heavy vs N1
- Delta IV Heavy vs Space Launch System Block 1
- Delta IV Heavy vs Energiya/Buran
- Delta IV Heavy vs Energiya
- Delta IV Heavy vs Falcon Heavy
- Delta IV Heavy vs New Glenn
- Delta IV Heavy vs Starship V2
- Delta IV Heavy vs Space Shuttle
- Delta IV Heavy vs Long March 5
- Delta IV Heavy vs Long March 5B
Source The Space Devs — Launch Library 2
Last checked 29 Sept 2026