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 | Electron Rocket Lab ✕ | Long March 4B CASC ✕ |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ||
| Height | 18.0 m | 44.1 m (best) |
| Diameter | 1.2 m | 3.4 m (best) |
| Stages | 3 | 3 |
| Launch mass | 13 t | 249 t (best) |
| Performance | ||
| Thrust at liftoff | 162 kN | 2,961 kN (best) |
| Thrust-to-weight | 1.27 (best) | 1.21 |
| Payload to LEO | 300 kg | 4,200 kg (best) |
| Payload to GTO | – | 1,500 kg |
| Cost | ||
| Launch cost | ~$6M | – |
| Cost per kg to LEO | ~$20,000 | – |
| Track record | ||
| Launches | 97 (best) | 58 |
| Successes | 93 (best) | 57 |
| Failures | 4 | 1 (best) |
| Success rate | 95.9% | 98.3% (best) |
| Success streak | 56 (best) | 38 |
| Booster landings | 7 | – |
| Landing success | 77.8% | – |
| Family launches | – | 120 |
| Upcoming launches | 16 (best) | 1 |
| First flight | 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. The drawings are to scale but simplified: boosters and fairings follow rounded public figures.