Compare · Rockets

Saturn V vs Energiya/Buran

RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT #1 VS #5 CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026

Side by side

Verdict

Saturn V ranks #1 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (140,000 kg); Energiya/Buran ranks #5 (90,400 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 05 of 311

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

Try another pair

More Saturn V matchups

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