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Space Shuttle vs Soyuz 2.1a

RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT #11 VS #102 CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026
Side by side
Verdict

Space Shuttle ranks #11 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (27,500 kg); Soyuz 2.1a ranks #102 (7,020 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 102 of 311
Payload to low Earth orbit
7,020 kg
Launches58
Success rate98.3%
Payload to GTO2,810 kg
First flight04 Nov 2004
Height46.3 m
Liftoff thrust4,149 kN
Launch mass312 t
Launch cost$80,000,000
ReusableNo
StatusActive
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