Archive-name: space/launchers Last-modified: $Date: 93/08/01 23:53:53 $ ORBITAL AND PLANETARY LAUNCH SERVICES Most of The following data comes from _International Reference Guide to Space Launch Systems_ by Steven J. Isakowitz, 1991 edition. Some prices come from Wales Larrison (wales.larrison@ofa123.fidonet.org). Notes: * Unless otherwise specified, LEO and polar payloads are for a 100 nm orbit. * Reliablity data generally includes launches through Dec 1990. When applicable, reliability data for a family of vehicles includes launches of types no longer operational. Reliability data is subject to interpretation and is for comparison purposes only. * Only operational vehicle families are included. Vehicle types which had not yet flown at the time my data was published (or when I wrote this) are marked with an asterisk. * Data on price is for comparison purposes only. Costs for government vehicles are somewhat meaningless and commercial costs vary from bid to bid. Vehicle | Payload kg (lbs) | Reliability | Price (nation) | LEO Polar GTO | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ariane 35/40 87.5% (ESA) AR40 4,900 3,900 1,900 1/1 $65m (10,800) (8,580) (4,190) AR42P 6,100 4,800 2,600 1/1 $67m (13,400) (10,600) (5,730) AR44P 6,900 5,500 3,000 0/0 ? $70m (15,200) (12,100) (6,610) AR42L 7,400 5,900 3,200 0/0 ? $90m (16,300) (13,000) (7,050) AR44LP 8,300 6,600 3,700 6/6 $95m (18,300) (14,500) (8,160) AR44L 9,600 7,700 4,200 3/4 $115m (21,100) (16,900) (9,260) * AR5 18,000 ??? 6,800 0/0 $105m (39,600) (15,000) [300nm] Atlas 213/245 86.9% (USA) Atlas E -- 820 -- 15/17 $45m (1,800) Atlas I 5,580 4,670 2,250 1/1 $70m (12,300) (10,300) (4,950) Atlas II 6,395 5,400 2,680 0/0 $75m (14,100) (11,900) (5,900) Atlas IIA 6,760 5,715 2,810 0/0 $85m (14,900) (12,600) (6,200) * Atlas IIAS 8,390 6,805 3,490 0/0 $115m (18,500) (15,000) (7,700) Delta 189/201 94.0% (USA) Delta 6925 3,900 2,950 1,450 14/14 $45m (8,780) (6,490) (3,190) Delta 7925 5,045 3,830 1,820 1/1 $50m (11,100) (8,420) (4,000) Energia 2/2 100% (Russia) Energia 88,000 80,000 ??? 2/2 $110m (194,000) (176,000) H series 22/22 100% (Japan) * H-2 10,500 6,600 4,000 0/0 $110m (23,000) (14,500) (8,800) Kosmos 371/377 98.4% (Russia) Kosmos 1100 - 1350 (2300 - 3000) $??? [400 km orbit ??? inclination] Lockheed Launch Vehicle Lockheed has announced three versions of the LLV, all small rockets using Castor 120 motors. Multiple contracts have been signed and first launch is scheduled for 1994. I don't have payload and price figures handy but they are publicly available. Long March 23/25 92.0% (China) * CZ-1D 720 ??? 200 0/0 $10m (1,590) (440) CZ-2C 3,200 1,750 1,000 12/12 $20m (7,040) (3,860) (2,200) CZ-2E 9,200 ??? 3,370 1/1 $40m (20,300) (7,430) * CZ-2E/HO 13,600 ??? 4,500 0/0 $60m (29,900) (9,900) CZ-3 ??? ??? 1,400 6/7 $33m (3,100) * CZ-3A ??? ??? 2,500 0/0 $???m (5,500) CZ-4 4,000 ??? 1,100 2/2 $???m (8,800) (2,430) Pegasus/Taurus 4/4 100% (USA) Pegasus 455 365 125 4/4 $13.5m (1,000) (800) (275) * Taurus 1,450 1,180 375 0/0 $15m (3,200) (2,600) (830) Proton 164/187 87.7% (Russia) Proton 20,000 ??? 5,500 164/187 $35-70m (44,100) (12,200) SCOUT 99/113 87.6% (USA) SCOUT G-1 270 210 54 13/13 $12m (600) (460) (120) * Enhanced SCOUT 525 372 110 0/0 $15m (1,160) (820) (240) Shavit 2/2 100% (Israel) Shavit ??? 160 ??? 2/2 $22m (350) Space Shuttle 37/38 97.4% (USA) Shuttle/SRB 23,500 ??? 5,900 37/38 [I'm not going (51,800) (13,000) to touch the price issue] * Shuttle/ASRM 27,100 ??? ??? 0/0 (59,800) SLV 2/6 33.3% (India) (400km) (900km polar) ASLV 150 ??? ??? 0/2 $???m (330) * PSLV 3,000 1,000 450 0/0 $???m (6,600) (2,200) (990) * GSLV 8,000 ??? 2,500 0/0 $???m (17,600) (5,500) Titan 160/172 93.0% (USA) Titan II ??? 1,905 ??? 2/2 $43m (4,200) Titan III 14,515 ??? 5,000 2/3 $158m (32,000) (11,000) [1988$] Titan IV/SRM 17,700 14,100 6,350 3/3 $315m-$360m (39,000) (31,100) (14,000) Titan IV/SRMU 21,640 18,600 8,620 0/0 $???m (47,700) (41,000) (19,000) Vostok 1358/1401 96.9% (Russia) [650km] Vostok 4,730 1,840 ??? ?/149 $14m (10,400) (4,060) Soyuz 7,000 ??? ??? ?/944 $15m (15,400) Molniya 1500kg (3300 lbs) in ?/258 $???M Highly eliptical orbit Zenit 12/13 92.3% (Russia) Zenit 13,740 11,380 4,300 12/13 $65m (30,300) (25,090) (9,480) The following information on other proposed launch systems is provided by Wales Larrison. I didn't get around to adding it to the FAQ for several months, so some of it is a bit stale. The asterisk marks vehicles which seem most likely to make it off the drawing board. Aerospatiale air launched (France) --study of two-stage launch vehicle launched from Airbus-type aircraft. Reported capable of 1000 Kg to LEO low-Earth orbit. Used M4 and M5 solid rocket boosters, and studied for European military uses. No data since early 1992. Probably shelved. Argentina -- small orbital launcher, derivative of Argentinian sounding rocket program. Some interesting rumors that suitable large solids were poured as part of secret military ICBM effort under military Junta rule several years ago, but program records destroyed when civilian government took over. Sweden (Bofors/Saab) -- small all solid sounding rocket to use Kiruna launch range in northern Sweden. Probably subsumed into IMI effort (Saab is teamed on Orbex). No data for several years. TRW -- Proposed development of launch vehicle using pressure-fed "dumb" boosters. Studied extensively at TRW in late 1960's and revived in late 1980's. Rumors of company-funded propulsion tests. Rumors this is being proposed as joint program with GDC or MDC for upgrade in MLV-3 proposal effort. -- Lots of rumors but no solid data that this is real program. * OrbEx - Small all solid vehicle. "ORBital EXpress". Firm contract for SDIO MISTI payload launch. Options for another 9 launches. First launch planned 1994. Cost per launch estimated at $ 10-15 M. First launch for SDIO, MISTI-4 payload, priced at $14.7 M, contract signed July 1992. Owned by International Microspace Inc. -- partnered with Conatec, Saab, and Bristol Aerospace. PACASTRO PA-1 - Little data. Estimate $5-10 M per launch. All solid, very small launcher. No confirmed customers or customer support. Floating venture capital prospectus around. * Russian ICBM derivatives -- Several proposed, usually SS-18 or SS-25 derivatives. Would used converted strategic ICBMs to launch small payloads. Bid on several international smallsat launchers. Political concerns due to use for MCTR and number of launches tightly regulated by START treaties and verification activities. Prices discussed are absolute rock- bottom. Space Clipper (NPO Yuznoye - Ukraine) - Proposed derivative of SS-18 utilizing air-launched ICBM as first stage of orbital launcher for small sats. Used AN-124 aircraft as carrier. Extensively publicized as part of IAF. 500 Kg into LEO. No customers, no contracts. SEALAR (Sea Eagle) - Mobile SEA LAunched Rocket. Supported by Navy Research lab funding. Estimated cost $ 10 M/launch. Projected first launch data of 1996 (dependent upon NRL funding) Bob Truax company. Suborbital test planned. * Space Launch Vehicle (SLV) (South Africa) - Small all-solid launcher. Rumored being readied for 1995 orbital launch. Cost unknown. Several large solid motor test firings, most recent on 12 October. [I believe that as of 7-93 this project was no longer operating -JBH] * Sonda IV (Brazil)- Small orbital launcher derivative of existing Brazilian Sonda sounding rocket. Rumored being readied for 1993 launch. Cost unknown. Obvious political issue from MTCR, if used as a launch vehicle for US payloads. Zefiro (Italy) - Small launcher derivative of Scout vehicle, utilizing new solid booster. From Gilarini in Italy. Cost unknown. Proposed to be ready for qual flights in late 1995. * J-1 (Japan) - Small all-solid launcher from NASDA H-2 solid boosters combined with M-3S II solids from ISAS launcher program. Paper by Tateu Hosomura of Nissan Motor Co., Japan's principal solid- booster manufacturer, at IAF claimed first flight in mid- 1995. Capable of 900 kilograms in LEO, with growth to 2000 Kg. Believed funded in 1993 NASDA/ISAS budget. Aussroc (Australia) - Eventual derivative of small indigenous sounding rocket currently being test fired. Last sounding rocket test failed. Probably 5-10 years away for orbital launch attempt if not fully funded by national government (currently shared industry/ university/ government). Would use old Woomera launch range. Bristol (Canada) - Proposed small launcher, based upon Black Brandt series of sounding rockets. Proposed development program to be shared with Canadian Space Agency. 500 lb to LEO class launcher. Requires development of new solid booster by Bristol. Capricornia (Spain) - small 3 stage booster. Reported to be capable of 100 Kg in LEO. Originated by INTA in Spain, under $ 30M of developmental funding. Looking for international partners and further financing. Potential launch in 1995/1996. * COMET/Conestoga -- small all solid vehicle being developed to launch the COMET orbital launch/return payload system. First launch planned 1993 from Wallops Island. Estimated launch cost $10-25 M (depending on type). [As of 7-93 COMET was on indefinate hold due to cost overruns. -JBH]