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Energiya/Buran vs Long March 3B/E

RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT #5 VS #61 CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026

Side by side

Verdict

Energiya/Buran ranks #5 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (90,400 kg); Long March 3B/E ranks #61 (12,000 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 61 of 311

Payload to low Earth orbit

12,000 kg

Launches78

Success rate97.4%

Payload to GTO5,500 kg

First flight13 May 2007

Height56.3 m

Liftoff thrust5,924 kN

Launch mass456 t

Launch cost$70,000,000

ReusableNo

StatusActive

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