Compare · Rockets

Saturn V vs Ariane 5 ES

RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT #1 VS #30 CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026

Side by side

Verdict

Saturn V ranks #1 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (140,000 kg); Ariane 5 ES ranks #30 (21,000 kg).

Rank 01 of 311 · leads

Payload to low Earth orbit

140,000 kg

Launches13

Success rate92.3%

Payload to GTO—

First flight09 Nov 1967

Height110.6 m

Liftoff thrust35,100 kN

Launch mass2,970 t

Launch cost—

ReusableNo

StatusRetired

Rank 30 of 311

Payload to low Earth orbit

21,000 kg

Launches8

Success rate100%

Payload to GTO—

First flight09 Mar 2008

Height45.7 m

Liftoff thrust11,400 kN

Launch mass746 t

Launch cost—

ReusableNo

StatusRetired

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More Saturn V matchups

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