Compare · Rockets

Saturn V vs Atlas V 521

RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT #1 VS #55 CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026

Side by side

Verdict

Saturn V ranks #1 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (140,000 kg); Atlas V 521 ranks #55 (13,490 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 55 of 311

Payload to low Earth orbit

13,490 kg

Launches2

Success rate100%

Payload to GTO6,475 kg

First flight17 Jul 2003

Height58.3 m

Liftoff thrust7,203 kN

Launch mass590 t

Launch cost$135,000,000

ReusableNo

StatusRetired

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