Arianespace / ArianeGroup · Europe
SpaceX · USA
| Ariane 6 | Metric | Falcon 9 |
|---|---|---|
| 21,650 kg | Payload to LEO | +5%22,800 kg |
| 11,500 kg+39% | Payload to GTO | 8,300 kg |
| 56–63 m+7990% | Height | 70 m |
| ~$7,500/kg | Cost per kg | +176%~$2,720/kg |
| 100%+1% | Success Rate | 99.5% |
| 2024 | First Flight | +1%2010 |
| No | Reusable | Yes |
| Arianespace / ArianeGroup | Company | SpaceX |
| Europe | Country | USA |
Payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) — relative scale
Payload to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)
3
Ariane 6 wins
0
Tied
4
Falcon 9 wins
Falcon 9 delivers 5% more payload to LEO, making it the heavier lifter.
Falcon 9 is more cost-effective at ~$2,720/kg vs ~$7,500/kg.
Ariane 6 has a higher success rate (100% vs 99.5%), indicating greater flight heritage.
Falcon 9 is reusable, which can significantly reduce long-term launch costs.
Overall, Falcon 9 wins on more metrics (4 vs 3), though each rocket is designed for different mission profiles.