Compare · Rockets

Energiya/Buran vs Saturn IB

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

Side by side

Verdict

Energiya/Buran ranks #5 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (90,400 kg); Saturn IB ranks #29 (21,000 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 29 of 311

Payload to low Earth orbit

21,000 kg

Launches10

Success rate90%

Payload to GTO—

First flight26 Feb 1966

Height43.2 m

Liftoff thrust7,100 kN

Launch mass590 t

Launch cost—

ReusableNo

StatusRetired

Try another pair

More Energiya/Buran matchups

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