SpaceX · USA
NASA / Boeing · USA
| Starship | Metric | SLS Block 1 |
|---|---|---|
| ~150,000 kg+58% | Payload to LEO | 95,000 kg |
| ~21,000 kg | Payload to GTO | +29%27,000 kg |
| 121 m+23% | Height | 98.1 m |
| ~$600/kg+6567% | Cost per kg | ~$40,000+/kg |
| ~55% | Success Rate | +82%100% |
| 2023 | First Flight | +0%2022 |
| Yes | Reusable | No |
| SpaceX | Company | NASA / Boeing |
| USA | Country | USA |
Payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) — relative scale
Payload to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)
4
Starship wins
0
Tied
3
SLS Block 1 wins
Starship delivers 58% more payload to LEO, making it the heavier lifter.
Starship is more cost-effective at ~$600/kg vs ~$40,000+/kg.
SLS Block 1 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.