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Archive-name: space/launchers
Last-modified: $Date: 93/08/01 23:53:53 $
ORBITAL AND PLANETARY LAUNCH SERVICES
Most of The following data comes from _International Reference Guide
to Space Launch Systems_ by Steven J. Isakowitz, 1991 edition.
Some prices come from Wales Larrison (wales.larrison@ofa123.fidonet.org).
Notes: * Unless otherwise specified, LEO and polar payloads
are for a 100 nm orbit.
* Reliablity data generally includes launches through Dec
1990. When applicable, reliability data for a family of
vehicles includes launches of types no longer
operational. Reliability data is subject to interpretation
and is for comparison purposes only.
* Only operational vehicle families are included.
Vehicle types which had not yet flown at the time
my data was published (or when I wrote this) are
marked with an asterisk.
* Data on price is for comparison purposes only.
Costs for government vehicles are somewhat meaningless
and commercial costs vary from bid to bid.
Vehicle | Payload kg (lbs) | Reliability | Price
(nation) | LEO Polar GTO | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ariane 35/40 87.5%
(ESA)
AR40 4,900 3,900 1,900 1/1 $65m
(10,800) (8,580) (4,190)
AR42P 6,100 4,800 2,600 1/1 $67m
(13,400) (10,600) (5,730)
AR44P 6,900 5,500 3,000 0/0 ? $70m
(15,200) (12,100) (6,610)
AR42L 7,400 5,900 3,200 0/0 ? $90m
(16,300) (13,000) (7,050)
AR44LP 8,300 6,600 3,700 6/6 $95m
(18,300) (14,500) (8,160)
AR44L 9,600 7,700 4,200 3/4 $115m
(21,100) (16,900) (9,260)
* AR5 18,000 ??? 6,800 0/0 $105m
(39,600) (15,000)
[300nm]
Atlas 213/245 86.9%
(USA)
Atlas E -- 820 -- 15/17 $45m
(1,800)
Atlas I 5,580 4,670 2,250 1/1 $70m
(12,300) (10,300) (4,950)
Atlas II 6,395 5,400 2,680 0/0 $75m
(14,100) (11,900) (5,900)
Atlas IIA 6,760 5,715 2,810 0/0 $85m
(14,900) (12,600) (6,200)
* Atlas IIAS 8,390 6,805 3,490 0/0 $115m
(18,500) (15,000) (7,700)
Delta 189/201 94.0%
(USA)
Delta 6925 3,900 2,950 1,450 14/14 $45m
(8,780) (6,490) (3,190)
Delta 7925 5,045 3,830 1,820 1/1 $50m
(11,100) (8,420) (4,000)
Energia 2/2 100%
(Russia)
Energia 88,000 80,000 ??? 2/2 $110m
(194,000) (176,000)
H series 22/22 100%
(Japan)
* H-2 10,500 6,600 4,000 0/0 $110m
(23,000) (14,500) (8,800)
Kosmos 371/377 98.4%
(Russia)
Kosmos 1100 - 1350 (2300 - 3000) $???
[400 km orbit ??? inclination]
Lockheed Launch Vehicle
Lockheed has announced three versions of the LLV, all small rockets
using Castor 120 motors. Multiple contracts have been signed and
first launch is scheduled for 1994. I don't have payload and
price figures handy but they are publicly available.
Long March 23/25 92.0%
(China)
* CZ-1D 720 ??? 200 0/0 $10m
(1,590) (440)
CZ-2C 3,200 1,750 1,000 12/12 $20m
(7,040) (3,860) (2,200)
CZ-2E 9,200 ??? 3,370 1/1 $40m
(20,300) (7,430)
* CZ-2E/HO 13,600 ??? 4,500 0/0 $60m
(29,900) (9,900)
CZ-3 ??? ??? 1,400 6/7 $33m
(3,100)
* CZ-3A ??? ??? 2,500 0/0 $???m
(5,500)
CZ-4 4,000 ??? 1,100 2/2 $???m
(8,800) (2,430)
Pegasus/Taurus 4/4 100%
(USA)
Pegasus 455 365 125 4/4 $13.5m
(1,000) (800) (275)
* Taurus 1,450 1,180 375 0/0 $15m
(3,200) (2,600) (830)
Proton 164/187 87.7%
(Russia)
Proton 20,000 ??? 5,500 164/187 $35-70m
(44,100) (12,200)
SCOUT 99/113 87.6%
(USA)
SCOUT G-1 270 210 54 13/13 $12m
(600) (460) (120)
* Enhanced SCOUT 525 372 110 0/0 $15m
(1,160) (820) (240)
Shavit 2/2 100%
(Israel)
Shavit ??? 160 ??? 2/2 $22m
(350)
Space Shuttle 37/38 97.4%
(USA)
Shuttle/SRB 23,500 ??? 5,900 37/38 [I'm not going
(51,800) (13,000) to touch the
price issue]
* Shuttle/ASRM 27,100 ??? ??? 0/0
(59,800)
SLV 2/6 33.3%
(India) (400km) (900km polar)
ASLV 150 ??? ??? 0/2 $???m
(330)
* PSLV 3,000 1,000 450 0/0 $???m
(6,600) (2,200) (990)
* GSLV 8,000 ??? 2,500 0/0 $???m
(17,600) (5,500)
Titan 160/172 93.0%
(USA)
Titan II ??? 1,905 ??? 2/2 $43m
(4,200)
Titan III 14,515 ??? 5,000 2/3 $158m
(32,000) (11,000) [1988$]
Titan IV/SRM 17,700 14,100 6,350 3/3 $315m-$360m
(39,000) (31,100) (14,000)
Titan IV/SRMU 21,640 18,600 8,620 0/0 $???m
(47,700) (41,000) (19,000)
Vostok 1358/1401 96.9%
(Russia) [650km]
Vostok 4,730 1,840 ??? ?/149 $14m
(10,400) (4,060)
Soyuz 7,000 ??? ??? ?/944 $15m
(15,400)
Molniya 1500kg (3300 lbs) in ?/258 $???M
Highly eliptical orbit
Zenit 12/13 92.3%
(Russia)
Zenit 13,740 11,380 4,300 12/13 $65m
(30,300) (25,090) (9,480)
The following information on other proposed launch systems is
provided by Wales Larrison. I didn't get around to adding it
to the FAQ for several months, so some of it is a bit stale.
The asterisk marks vehicles which seem most likely to make
it off the drawing board.
Aerospatiale air launched (France) --study of two-stage launch
vehicle launched from Airbus-type aircraft. Reported
capable of 1000 Kg to LEO low-Earth orbit. Used M4
and M5 solid rocket boosters, and studied for
European military uses. No data since early 1992.
Probably shelved.
Argentina -- small orbital launcher, derivative of Argentinian
sounding rocket program. Some interesting rumors
that suitable large solids were poured as part of
secret military ICBM effort under military Junta rule
several years ago, but program records destroyed when
civilian government took over.
Sweden (Bofors/Saab) -- small all solid sounding rocket to use
Kiruna launch range in northern Sweden. Probably
subsumed into IMI effort (Saab is teamed on Orbex).
No data for several years.
TRW -- Proposed development of launch vehicle using pressure-fed
"dumb" boosters. Studied extensively at TRW in late
1960's and revived in late 1980's. Rumors of
company-funded propulsion tests. Rumors this is
being proposed as joint program with GDC or MDC for
upgrade in MLV-3 proposal effort. -- Lots of rumors
but no solid data that this is real program.
* OrbEx - Small all solid vehicle. "ORBital EXpress". Firm
contract for SDIO MISTI payload launch. Options for
another 9 launches. First launch planned 1994. Cost
per launch estimated at $ 10-15 M. First launch for
SDIO, MISTI-4 payload, priced at $14.7 M, contract
signed July 1992. Owned by International Microspace
Inc. -- partnered with Conatec, Saab, and Bristol
Aerospace.
PACASTRO PA-1 - Little data. Estimate $5-10 M per launch. All
solid, very small launcher. No confirmed customers
or customer support. Floating venture capital
prospectus around.
* Russian ICBM derivatives -- Several proposed, usually SS-18 or
SS-25 derivatives. Would used converted strategic
ICBMs to launch small payloads. Bid on several
international smallsat launchers. Political
concerns due to use for MCTR and number of launches
tightly regulated by START treaties and verification
activities. Prices discussed are absolute rock-
bottom.
Space Clipper (NPO Yuznoye - Ukraine) - Proposed derivative of
SS-18 utilizing air-launched ICBM as first stage of
orbital launcher for small sats. Used AN-124
aircraft as carrier. Extensively publicized as part
of IAF. 500 Kg into LEO. No customers, no contracts.
SEALAR (Sea Eagle) - Mobile SEA LAunched Rocket. Supported by
Navy Research lab funding. Estimated cost $ 10
M/launch. Projected first launch data of 1996
(dependent upon NRL funding) Bob Truax company.
Suborbital test planned.
* Space Launch Vehicle (SLV) (South Africa) - Small all-solid
launcher. Rumored being readied for 1995 orbital
launch. Cost unknown. Several large solid motor
test firings, most recent on 12 October.
[I believe that as of 7-93 this project was no
longer operating -JBH]
* Sonda IV (Brazil)- Small orbital launcher derivative of existing
Brazilian Sonda sounding rocket. Rumored being
readied for 1993 launch. Cost unknown. Obvious
political issue from MTCR, if used as a launch
vehicle for US payloads.
Zefiro (Italy) - Small launcher derivative of Scout vehicle,
utilizing new solid booster. From Gilarini in Italy.
Cost unknown. Proposed to be ready for qual flights
in late 1995.
* J-1 (Japan) - Small all-solid launcher from NASDA H-2 solid
boosters combined with M-3S II solids from ISAS
launcher program. Paper by Tateu Hosomura of Nissan
Motor Co., Japan's principal solid- booster
manufacturer, at IAF claimed first flight in mid-
1995. Capable of 900 kilograms in LEO, with growth to
2000 Kg. Believed funded in 1993 NASDA/ISAS budget.
Aussroc (Australia) - Eventual derivative of small indigenous
sounding rocket currently being test fired. Last
sounding rocket test failed. Probably 5-10 years
away for orbital launch attempt if not fully funded
by national government (currently shared industry/
university/ government). Would use old Woomera
launch range.
Bristol (Canada) - Proposed small launcher, based upon Black
Brandt series of sounding rockets. Proposed
development program to be shared with Canadian Space
Agency. 500 lb to LEO class launcher. Requires
development of new solid booster by Bristol.
Capricornia (Spain) - small 3 stage booster. Reported to be
capable of 100 Kg in LEO. Originated by INTA in
Spain, under $ 30M of developmental funding. Looking
for international partners and further financing.
Potential launch in 1995/1996.
* COMET/Conestoga -- small all solid vehicle being developed to
launch the COMET orbital launch/return payload
system. First launch planned 1993 from Wallops
Island. Estimated launch cost $10-25 M (depending on
type).
[As of 7-93 COMET was on indefinate hold due to
cost overruns. -JBH]