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Compare · Rockets

Space Shuttle vs Soyuz-U2

RANKED BY PAYLOAD TO LOW EARTH ORBIT #11 VS #101 CHECKED 29 SEPT 2026
Side by side
Verdict

Space Shuttle ranks #11 of 311 on Payload to low Earth orbit (27,500 kg); Soyuz-U2 ranks #101 (7,050 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 101 of 311
Payload to low Earth orbit
7,050 kg
Launches71
Success rate100%
Payload to GTO—
First flight23 Dec 1982
Height34.54 m
Liftoff thrust—
Launch mass298 t
Launch cost—
ReusableNo
StatusRetired
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