NASA / Boeing · USA
ULA · USA
| SLS Block 1 | Metric | Vulcan Centaur |
|---|---|---|
| 95,000 kg+249% | Payload to LEO | 27,200 kg |
| 27,000 kg+88% | Payload to GTO | 14,400 kg |
| 98.1 m+59% | Height | 61.6 m |
| ~$40,000+/kg | Cost per kg | +627%~$5,500/kg |
| 100% | Success Rate | 100% |
| 2022+0% | First Flight | 2024 |
| No | Reusable | No |
| NASA / Boeing | Company | ULA |
| USA | Country | USA |
Payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) — relative scale
Payload to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)
4
SLS Block 1 wins
2
Tied
1
Vulcan Centaur wins
SLS Block 1 delivers 249% more payload to LEO, making it the heavier lifter.
Vulcan Centaur is more cost-effective at ~$5,500/kg vs ~$40,000+/kg.
Overall, SLS Block 1 wins on more metrics (4 vs 1), though each rocket is designed for different mission profiles.