NASA / Boeing · USA
ULA · USA
| SLS Block 1 | Metric | Atlas V |
|---|---|---|
| 95,000 kg+404% | Payload to LEO | 18,850 kg |
| 27,000 kg+203% | Payload to GTO | 8,900 kg |
| 98.1 m+68% | Height | 58.3 m |
| ~$40,000+/kg | Cost per kg | +>100%N/A |
| 100% | Success Rate | 100% |
| 2022 | First Flight | +1%2002 |
| No | Reusable | No |
| NASA / Boeing | Company | ULA |
| USA | Country | USA |
Payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) — relative scale
Payload to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)
3
SLS Block 1 wins
2
Tied
2
Atlas V wins
SLS Block 1 delivers 404% more payload to LEO, making it the heavier lifter.
Overall, SLS Block 1 wins on more metrics (3 vs 2), though each rocket is designed for different mission profiles.