SpaceX · USA
ULA · USA
| Starship | Metric | Atlas V |
|---|---|---|
| ~150,000 kg+696% | Payload to LEO | 18,850 kg |
| ~21,000 kg+136% | Payload to GTO | 8,900 kg |
| 121 m+108% | Height | 58.3 m |
| ~$600/kg | Cost per kg | +>100%N/A |
| ~55% | Success Rate | +82%100% |
| 2023 | First Flight | +1%2002 |
| Yes | Reusable | No |
| SpaceX | Company | ULA |
| USA | Country | USA |
Payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) — relative scale
Payload to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)
4
Starship wins
0
Tied
3
Atlas V wins
Starship delivers 696% more payload to LEO, making it the heavier lifter.
Atlas V 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 (4 vs 3), though each rocket is designed for different mission profiles.