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Energiya/Buran vs Atlas V 501

RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT #5 VS #87 CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026

Side by side

Verdict

Energiya/Buran ranks #5 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (90,400 kg); Atlas V 501 ranks #87 (8,210 kg).

Rank 05 of 311 · leads

Payload to low Earth orbit

90,400 kg

Launches1

Success rate100%

Payload to GTO—

First flight15 Nov 1988

Height97 m

Liftoff thrust35,301 kN

Launch mass2,629 t

Launch cost—

ReusableYes

StatusRetired

Rank 87 of 311

Payload to low Earth orbit

8,210 kg

Launches8

Success rate100%

Payload to GTO3,780 kg

First flight22 Apr 2010

Height58.3 m

Liftoff thrust3,827 kN

Launch mass334 t

Launch cost$120,000,000

ReusableNo

StatusRetired

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Source The Space Devs — Launch Library 2 Last checked 29 Sept 2026