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Energiya/Buran vs Soyuz 2.1b

RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT #5 VS #90 CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026

Side by side

Verdict

Energiya/Buran ranks #5 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (90,400 kg); Soyuz 2.1b ranks #90 (8,200 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 90 of 311

Payload to low Earth orbit

8,200 kg

Launches25

Success rate100%

Payload to GTO3,250 kg

First flight26 Jul 2008

Height46.3 m

Liftoff thrust—

Launch mass312 t

Launch cost$80,000,000

ReusableNo

StatusActive

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