military's go-to rocket for sending large national security satellites into orbit. The Delta IV Heavy doesn't fly often, but it's been the U.S. This rocket was first tested in 2004 and it's taller than the Falcon Heavy, but SpaceX is promising to take up heavier payloads. SpaceX's competitor, United Launch Alliance, has the Delta IV Heavy. Liftoff thrust: 3.9 million pounds (1.8 million kilograms)Ĭapability: 100,000 pounds (45,000 kilograms) to LEOĭelta IV Heavy ULA's Delta IV Heavy was the most powerful rocket currently in operation for years. Status: First test flight no earlier than 2020 It'll come in two configurations: one with two stages and another with an added third stage for extra boost. But, the company also has plans for a monstrous new machine that can send people and payloads to Earth's orbit. New Glenn Blue Origin has a massive new factory in Florida where it plans to build New Glenn.īlue Origin - the space startup created by Amazon's Jeff Bezos - has a small, reusable rocket to send paying tourists on trips to sub-orbital space. Payloads: Apollo spacecraft and astronauts, Skylab Liftoff thrust: 7.6 million pounds (3.4 million kilograms)Ĭapability: 260,000 pounds (118,000 kilograms) to LEO The last Saturn V was used to launch Skylab, America's first space station, on May 14, 1973. NASA used the Saturn V to send astronauts to the moon in the Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17 spacecraft.Ī Saturn V also launched Apollo 13, but the spacecraft (not the rocket) had a problem and the astronauts didn't land. The Apollo 11 mission took off July 16, 1969.Įven after the Falcon Heavy launches, the Saturn V will remain the tallest and most powerful rocket ever, and the only one to help carry humans beyond Earth's orbit. Saturn V The Saturn V launched the first-ever astronauts to land on the moon. The space agency will be able to configure the rocket differently for each mission.

NASA is building the Space Launch System, a rocket designed to take people into deep space and potentially Mars. Space Launch System NASA's SLS could be the most powerful rocket ever made. Planned payloads: One Tesla (dummy payload), satellites, cargo, astronauts, tourists (Note: Capability refers to the maximum payload weight the rocket can deliver to Low-Earth Orbit.) Status: First test flight took place February 6Ĭapability: 140,660 pounds (63,800 kilograms) to LEO Falcon Heavy SpaceX says the rocket is the most powerful currently in operation with more than double the power of ULA's Delta IV Heavy.

Weight of space shuttle endeavour