Compare · Rockets
Space Shuttle vs Falcon 9 Full Thrust
RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT
#11 VS #18
CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026
Side by side
Verdict
Space Shuttle ranks #11 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (27,500 kg); Falcon 9 Full Thrust ranks #18 (22,800 kg).
Rank 11 of 311 · leads
Payload to low Earth orbit
27,500 kg
Launches135
Success rate98.5%
Payload to GTO—
First flight12 Apr 1981
Height56.1 m
Liftoff thrust28,200 kN
Launch mass2,030 t
Launch cost$450,000,000
ReusableYes
StatusRetired
Rank 18 of 311
Payload to low Earth orbit
22,800 kg
Launches25
Success rate96%
Payload to GTO8,305 kg
First flight22 Dec 2015
Height71 m
Liftoff thrust6,804 kN
Launch mass546 t
Launch cost$50,000,000
ReusableYes
StatusRetired
Try another pair
More Space Shuttle matchups
- Space Shuttle vs Saturn V
- Space Shuttle vs Starship V3
- Space Shuttle vs N1
- Space Shuttle vs Space Launch System Block 1
- Space Shuttle vs Energiya/Buran
- Space Shuttle vs Energiya
- Space Shuttle vs Falcon Heavy
- Space Shuttle vs New Glenn
- Space Shuttle vs Starship V2
- Space Shuttle vs Delta IV Heavy
- Space Shuttle vs Long March 5
- Space Shuttle vs Long March 5B
Source The Space Devs — Launch Library 2
Last checked 29 Sept 2026