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Energiya/Buran vs Delta IV Heavy

RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT #5 VS #10 CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026

Side by side

Verdict

Energiya/Buran ranks #5 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (90,400 kg); Delta IV Heavy ranks #10 (28,370 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 10 of 311

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

Try another pair

More Energiya/Buran matchups

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