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Energiya/Buran vs Molniya 8K78

RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT #5 VS #186 CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026

Side by side

Verdict

Energiya/Buran ranks #5 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (90,400 kg); Molniya 8K78 ranks #186 (1,900 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 186 of 311

Payload to low Earth orbit

1,900 kg

Launches40

Success rate50%

Payload to GTO—

First flight10 Oct 1960

Height43.44 m

Liftoff thrust813 kN

Launch mass305 t

Launch cost—

ReusableNo

StatusRetired

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