Soyuz-2
Modernized descendant of the world’s first ICBM, flying since 2004: 46 m tall, 8,200 kg to orbit, and more than 150 launches carrying crews, cargo and satellites.
Launch Vehicle
Ariane 6
Europe’s new heavy-lift rocket, flying since July 2024: two or four boosters, up to 21,650 kg to low orbit and 11,500 kg toward geostationary transfer.
Long March 5
China’s most powerful operational rocket lifts 25,000 kg to low Earth orbit and launched the Tiangong station modules, Chang’e Moon missions and Tianwen-1 to Mars.
New Glenn
Blue Origin’s 98 m partially reusable heavy rocket reached orbit on its January 2025 debut and can carry 45,000 kg to low Earth orbit.
Electron
Rocket Lab’s 18 m carbon-fiber small-satellite launcher lifts 300 kg to orbit with 3D-printed, battery-pumped engines and has flown more than 60 missions since 2017.
Space Launch System (SLS)
NASA’s Moon rocket for Artemis: 98 m tall, 39,100 kN at liftoff — more thrust than Saturn V — and 95,000 kg to low Earth orbit.
Saturn V
NASA’s 110.6 m Moon rocket launched every Apollo lunar mission and Skylab, sending 140,000 kg to orbit and never losing a crew or payload in 13 flights.
Falcon Heavy
SpaceX’s triple-core heavy lifter: 27 engines, about 22,800 kN of thrust, and up to 63,800 kg to orbit — flying since February 2018.
Starship
SpaceX’s fully reusable two-stage giant: 121 m tall with about 74,000 kN of thrust, the most powerful rocket ever flown, still in flight testing.
Falcon 9
SpaceX’s partially reusable workhorse rocket: 70 m tall, 22,800 kg to low Earth orbit, and more than 450 launches since 2010 — America’s most-launched rocket ever.