SpaceX · USA
ULA · USA
| Starship | Metric | Vulcan Centaur |
|---|---|---|
| ~150,000 kg+451% | Payload to LEO | 27,200 kg |
| ~21,000 kg+46% | Payload to GTO | 14,400 kg |
| 121 m+96% | Height | 61.6 m |
| ~$600/kg+817% | Cost per kg | ~$5,500/kg |
| ~55% | Success Rate | +82%100% |
| 2023+0% | First Flight | 2024 |
| Yes | Reusable | No |
| SpaceX | Company | ULA |
| USA | Country | USA |
Payload to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) — relative scale
Payload to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)
6
Starship wins
0
Tied
1
Vulcan Centaur wins
Starship delivers 451% more payload to LEO, making it the heavier lifter.
Starship is more cost-effective at ~$600/kg vs ~$5,500/kg.
Vulcan Centaur 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 (6 vs 1), though each rocket is designed for different mission profiles.