Compare rockets
Put up to six launch vehicles side by side: drawn to the same scale, then size, performance, cost and track record. The best figure in each row is highlighted. Share the address to share the comparison.
| Figure | Long March 2D CASC ✕ | Electron Rocket Lab ✕ | Long March 4B CASC ✕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | |||
| Height | 38.3 m | 18.0 m | 44.1 m (best) |
| Diameter | 3.4 m (best) | 1.2 m | 3.4 m (best) |
| Stages | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Launch mass | 232 t | 13 t | 249 t (best) |
| Performance | |||
| Thrust at liftoff | 2,962 kN (best) | 162 kN | 2,961 kN |
| Thrust-to-weight | 1.30 (best) | 1.27 | 1.21 |
| Payload to LEO | 3,500 kg | 300 kg | 4,200 kg (best) |
| Payload to GTO | – | – | 1,500 kg |
| Cost | |||
| Launch cost | ~$30M | ~$6M (best) | – |
| Cost per kg to LEO | ~$8,571 (best) | ~$20,000 | – |
| Track record | |||
| Launches | 101 (best) | 97 | 58 |
| Successes | 100 (best) | 93 | 57 |
| Failures | 1 (best) | 4 | 1 (best) |
| Success rate | 99.0% (best) | 95.9% | 98.3% |
| Success streak | 69 (best) | 56 | 38 |
| Booster landings | – | 7 | – |
| Landing success | – | 77.8% | – |
| Family launches | 233 | – | 120 |
| Upcoming launches | 0 | 16 (best) | 1 |
| First flight | 1992 | 2017 | 1999 |
Figures from Launch Library 2. A dash means it has no value for that rocket yet; thrust-to-weight and cost per kilogram are worked out from its figures. Launch costs are rough public estimates.