Compare · Rockets

Space Shuttle vs Soyuz 2.1b Fregat

RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT #11 VS #89 CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026

Side by side

Verdict

Space Shuttle ranks #11 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (27,500 kg); Soyuz 2.1b Fregat ranks #89 (8,200 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 89 of 311

Payload to low Earth orbit

8,200 kg

Launches26

Success rate92.3%

Payload to GTO3,250 kg

First flight27 Dec 2006

Height46.3 m

Liftoff thrust4,150 kN

Launch mass312 t

Launch cost$80,000,000

ReusableNo

StatusActive

Try another pair

More Space Shuttle matchups

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