Compare · Rockets

Saturn V vs Delta IV Heavy

RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT #1 VS #10 CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026

Side by side

Verdict

Saturn V ranks #1 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (140,000 kg); Delta IV Heavy ranks #10 (28,370 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 10 of 311

Payload to low Earth orbit

28,370 kg

Launches16

Success rate93.8%

Payload to GTO14,210 kg

First flight21 Dec 2004

Height72 m

Liftoff thrust8,674 kN

Launch mass733 t

Launch cost$350,000,000

ReusableNo

StatusRetired

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