Launch Vehicles by Payload Capacity: LEO, SSO and GTO Compared

How much a rocket can carry depends on where the payload goes. On the figures the manufacturers publish, heavy launchers such as Falcon Heavy, New Glenn, Vulcan and Ariane 64 lift more than 20 tonnes to low Earth orbit (LEO), Falcon 9 lifts 22,800 kg, and small launchers such as Electron, Spectrum and RFA One carry between 300 kg and about 1,300 kg. The same rocket always carries much less to sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) and far less to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). This guide lists the published capacities by orbit and explains how to read them.

Why capacity changes with the orbit

Every orbit needs a different amount of energy. A low, near-equatorial orbit launched due east is the cheapest target, because the rocket gains speed from the rotation of the Earth. A polar or sun-synchronous orbit runs across the poles and gets almost none of that help. A geostationary transfer orbit stretches up to 35,786 km and needs much more energy again. The result is that one rocket has several capacity figures, and only the one for your orbit matters.

The definitions also differ between providers. ULA, for example, defines its LEO reference orbit as 200 km circular at 28.7 degrees, LEO polar as 200 km circular at 90 degrees and GTO as 35,786 km by 185 km at 27.0 degrees. Rocket Lab, Isar Aerospace and ESA quote LEO without such a detailed definition on their vehicle pages. Treat the figures below as a first filter, not as a promise for your mission.

Heavy launchers: more than 20 tonnes to LEO

SpaceX Falcon Heavy: 63,800 kg to LEO and 26,700 kg to GTO, according to SpaceX. SpaceX also lists 16,800 kg to Mars.
Blue Origin New Glenn: 45 metric tons to LEO and more than 13 metric tons to GTO, according to Blue Origin.
ULA Vulcan with six solid rocket boosters: 27,200 kg to the LEO reference orbit, 23,900 kg to LEO polar, 14,500 kg to GTO and 6,500 kg directly to GEO, according to ULA.
Ariane 64 (four boosters): about 21.6 tonnes to LEO and about 11.5 tonnes to GTO, according to ESA.

These vehicles serve large geostationary satellites, constellation batches and deep space missions. For a single small satellite they are only relevant as a rideshare ride or a secondary payload. Our guide to Falcon Heavy covers the largest of them in more detail.

Medium launchers: about 10 to 23 tonnes to LEO

SpaceX Falcon 9: 22,800 kg to LEO, 8,300 kg to GTO and 4,020 kg to Mars, according to SpaceX.
Ariane 62 (two boosters): about 10.3 tonnes to LEO and about 4.5 tonnes to GTO, according to ESA.
ULA Vulcan without boosters: 10,800 kg to the LEO reference orbit, 8,500 kg to LEO polar and 3,500 kg to GTO, according to ULA. ULA does not offer this version for direct GEO insertion.

Vulcan shows how much the configuration matters. With zero, two, four or six boosters, ULA lists GTO capacities of 3,500 kg, 8,400 kg, 11,700 kg and 14,500 kg. Ariane 6 follows the same idea with two or four boosters. When you compare offers, ask which configuration the price refers to.

Small and light launchers: up to about 3 tonnes

Vega-C (Europe): 3.3 tonnes to LEO, 2.5 tonnes to polar orbits and 2.3 tonnes to SSO, according to ESA. Avio, which builds the rocket, gives up to 2,300 kg in LEO on its own page, which shows why you should always ask which reference orbit a figure refers to.
PSLV (India): up to 1,750 kg to a sun-synchronous polar orbit at 600 km and 1,425 kg to sub-GTO, according to ISRO.
RFA One (Germany): 1,300 kg to a 500 km SSO, 850 kg to a 2,000 km polar orbit, 500 kg to a 6,000 km medium Earth orbit, 450 kg to GTO, 300 kg to lunar transfer orbit and 150 kg to GEO, according to Rocket Factory Augsburg.
Isar Aerospace Spectrum (Germany): up to 1,000 kg to LEO and 700 kg to SSO, according to Isar Aerospace.
Rocket Lab Electron: 300 kg to LEO, according to Rocket Lab.

The Vega-C figures show the typical gap between orbits: the same rocket lifts about 30 percent less to SSO than to LEO. Spectrum loses 300 kg between LEO and SSO. RFA One is one of the few small launchers that publishes a full set of figures up to GEO. For a closer look at four of these vehicles, read our small launcher comparison.

How to use these figures for your mission

Start with the orbit, not the rocket. Write down the target altitude and inclination, then compare only the figures for that orbit type. Most Earth observation satellites go to SSO, so the LEO figure overstates what a rocket can do for them. Geostationary satellites usually start in GTO, unless the upper stage can deliver them directly to GEO; our article on launch vehicles for GEO insertion explains the difference.

Then check the margin. The published capacity is the most the rocket can deliver. The adapter, dispenser and separation system also count against it, and on a rideshare flight you only buy a part of the capacity. A rocket that is barely large enough leaves no room for growth in satellite mass.

Finally, compare more than mass. Fairing size, launch site, launch rate, flight record and the date of the next free slot often decide more than the last few hundred kilograms. On Carrier Space vehicles you can filter launch systems by maximum payload, and the rocket comparison puts two or more vehicles side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Which rocket has the largest payload capacity today?

Of the operational rockets listed here, Falcon Heavy publishes the largest figures: 63,800 kg to LEO and 26,700 kg to GTO, according to SpaceX. New Glenn follows with 45 metric tons to LEO according to Blue Origin.

What is the difference between LEO, SSO and GTO capacity?

LEO capacity is usually quoted for a low orbit with a moderate inclination and is the highest figure. SSO is a near-polar orbit and needs more energy, so the figure is lower. GTO reaches up to 35,786 km and gives the lowest figure for orbits around the Earth. Falcon 9, for example, lifts 22,800 kg to LEO but 8,300 kg to GTO.

How much can a small launcher carry?

The small launchers listed here range from 300 kg to LEO for Electron to 1,300 kg to a 500 km SSO for RFA One. Vega-C is larger, with 2.3 tonnes to SSO according to ESA.

Why does the same rocket have different payload figures?

The figures depend on the target orbit, the configuration and the provider's definition of the orbit. Vulcan, for instance, can fly with zero, two, four or six boosters, and its GTO capacity rises from 3,500 kg to 14,500 kg, according to ULA.

Do I need to book a whole rocket for my satellite?

No. Many small satellites fly as rideshare payloads and share the capacity with others. A dedicated launch makes sense when you need a specific orbit, a fixed date or most of the capacity.

Not sure which vehicle fits your satellite? Send a request through Carrier Space with your mass, target orbit and timeline.

Sources

Cover image: An Atlas V rocket launches with the Juno spacecraft from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, on 5 August 2011. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls (NASA ID 201108050001HQ).