Looking for a company that can launch your satellite? The number of options has grown fast. Carrier Space currently lists 80 cargo launch systems from providers around the world: rockets of every size, orbital transfer vehicles, cargo spacecraft, return capsules and lunar landers. This guide sorts them into classes, explains what each class is good for, and shows how to narrow down the right provider for your mission. All payload figures below are the maximum payload values listed on Carrier Space, which come from the providers' own published data.
How to read this comparison
Launch providers are usually compared by how much mass a rocket can lift. The figure that matters for you depends on your target orbit: a rocket carries much more to low Earth orbit (LEO) than to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The values listed here are the maximum figures shown on each vehicle's page, typically for LEO. Several vehicles are still in development, so check each vehicle page on Carrier Space for its status and the orbit the number refers to. Our guide to LEO, MEO and GEO explains the orbits.
Also keep in mind that you do not always need a rocket of your satellite's size. Small satellites often fly as part of a rideshare on a large rocket.
Small launch vehicles (up to about 1,000 kg)
Small launchers fly one or a few small satellites on a dedicated mission, so the customer chooses orbit and timing. NASA's Small Spacecraft Technology report describes dedicated small launch vehicles as offering tailored access to space. Examples listed on Carrier Space:
- Electron (Rocket Lab, United States): 300 kg
- Spectrum (Isar Aerospace, Germany): 1,000 kg
- Alpha (Firefly Aerospace, United States): 1,030 kg
- ZERO (Interstellar Technologies, Japan): 1,000 kg
- KAIROS (Space One, Japan): 250 kg
- Miura 5 (PLD Space, Spain): 540 kg
- SL1 (HyImpulse, Germany): 600 kg
- Maia (MaiaSpace, France): 500 kg
- SSLV (NewSpace India): 500 kg
- Vikram-1 (Skyroot Aerospace, India): 350 kg; Agnibaan (Agnikul Cosmos, India): 100 kg
- Ceres-1 (Galactic Energy, China): 420 kg
- HANBIT-Nano (Innospace, South Korea): 90 kg
Europe in particular has several new small launchers. Our small launcher comparison and the overview of European launch sites go into more detail.
Medium launch vehicles (about 1,000 to 10,000 kg)
This class serves larger single satellites, small constellations and dedicated missions to higher orbits. Examples:
- RFA ONE (Rocket Factory Augsburg, Germany): 1,300 kg
- PSLV (NewSpace India): 1,750 kg
- Minotaur IV (Northrop Grumman, United States): 1,730 kg
- Nova (Stoke Space, United States): 2,500 kg
- Vega C (Avio, Italy): 3,300 kg
- Long March 2C (China Great Wall Industry Corporation): 3,850 kg
- Gravity-1 (Orienspace, China) and H3 (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan): 6,500 kg each
- GSLV Mk II (NewSpace India): 6,000 kg
- LVM3 (NewSpace India): 10,000 kg
Heavy launch vehicles (above 10,000 kg)
Heavy rockets launch large geostationary satellites, constellation batches, space station modules and interplanetary missions. They also carry many small satellites on rideshare missions. Examples:
- Ariane 62 / Ariane 64 (Arianespace, France): 10,350 kg / 21,600 kg
- Neutron (Rocket Lab, United States): 13,000 kg
- Atlas V (United Launch Alliance): 18,850 kg; Vulcan Centaur: 27,200 kg
- Falcon 9 (SpaceX): 22,800 kg; Falcon Heavy: 63,800 kg
- Terran R (Relativity Space): 23,500 kg
- New Glenn (Blue Origin): 45,000 kg
- Starship (SpaceX): 100,000 kg
- Zhuque-3 (LandSpace, China): 21,300 kg; Nebula-2 (Deep Blue Aerospace, China): 25,000 kg
Read more in Falcon Heavy and heavy payload launches and launch vehicles for GEO.
Beyond the rocket: in-space transport, cargo and return
Many missions need more than a launch. Carrier Space also lists:
- Orbital transfer vehicles such as D-Orbit's ION Satellite Carrier, Impulse Space's Helios and Mira, Exotrail's spacevan and Momentus's Vigoride, which move payloads from the drop-off orbit to the target orbit. See space tugs explained.
- Cargo spacecraft for space stations such as SpaceX Cargo Dragon (6,000 kg), Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL (5,000 kg) and Sierra Space Dream Chaser (5,443 kg).
- Return capsules such as The Exploration Company's Nyx, ATMOS Space Cargo's Phoenix 2 and Varda's W-Series capsule. See downmass explained.
- Lunar landers such as Astrobotic Griffin (625 kg), Firefly Blue Ghost (240 kg), Intuitive Machines Nova-C and Blue Origin Blue Moon MK1 (3,000 kg). See CLPS explained.
How to choose a launch provider
- Start with orbit and mass. They decide which rockets are technically possible.
- Decide between rideshare and dedicated. Rideshare is cheaper per kilogram, dedicated gives you control over orbit and date.
- Check availability and lead time. New vehicles may not have open slots or may still be in testing.
- Compare prices. Few providers publish prices. SpaceX is an exception: its rideshare page lists $350,000 for 50 kg to SSO plus $7,000 per additional kilogram, see launch costs.
- Consider export and licensing. The launch country affects export rules, see ITAR and EAR.
- Look at track record. Flight history matters for insurance and risk.
On Carrier Space you can compare vehicles side by side, browse all providers and vehicles, and send one request that providers can answer.
Frequently asked questions
Which companies launch satellites?
Major providers include SpaceX, Arianespace, United Launch Alliance, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, NewSpace India, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and China Great Wall Industry Corporation, plus many new companies such as Isar Aerospace, Firefly, PLD Space and Rocket Factory Augsburg.
Which rocket is best for a small satellite?
It depends on orbit, schedule and budget. Rideshare on a large rocket is often cheapest; small launchers like Electron or Spectrum give you a dedicated ride.
How many launch providers are there?
Carrier Space currently lists 80 cargo launch systems, including rockets, transfer vehicles, cargo spacecraft, capsules and landers.
Are there European launch providers?
Yes, for example Arianespace (Ariane 6), Avio (Vega C), Isar Aerospace (Spectrum), Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA ONE), PLD Space (Miura 5), HyImpulse (SL1) and MaiaSpace (Maia).
Related reading
Sources
- Carrier Space: vehicle database (accessed 6 October 2026)
- SpaceX: Smallsat Rideshare Program
- NASA: Small Spacecraft Technology State of the Art, Integration, Launch and Deployment
Cover image: Aerial view of an Atlas V 541 rocket carrying NOAA's GOES-T satellite at Cape Canaveral, February 2022. Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett (KSC-20220228-PH-KLS01_0275), public domain.