SpaceX · USA
Arianespace / ArianeGroup · Europe
| Starship | Metric | Ariane 6 |
|---|---|---|
| ~150,000 kg+593% | Payload to LEO | 21,650 kg |
| ~21,000 kg+83% | Payload to GTO | 11,500 kg |
| 121 m | Height | +4580%56–63 m |
| ~$600/kg+1150% | Cost per kg | ~$7,500/kg |
| ~55% | Success Rate | +82%100% |
| 2023+0% | First Flight | 2024 |
| Yes | Reusable | No |
| SpaceX | Company | Arianespace / ArianeGroup |
| USA | Country | Europe |
Payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) — relative scale
Payload to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)
5
Starship wins
0
Tied
2
Ariane 6 wins
Starship delivers 593% more payload to LEO, making it the heavier lifter.
Starship is more cost-effective at ~$600/kg vs ~$7,500/kg.
Ariane 6 has a higher success rate (100% vs ~55%), indicating greater flight heritage.
Starship is reusable, which can significantly reduce long-term launch costs.
Overall, Starship wins on more metrics (5 vs 2), though each rocket is designed for different mission profiles.