U.S. human spaceflight launchers

NASA’s Space Launch System, or SLS – the centrepiece of the $93 billion Artemis programme – is a super heavy-lift launch vehicle that can send
astronauts directly to the Moon on a single mission

Launch abort system: Propels Orion capsule to safety

Orion capsule: Crew: 2-6
Diameter: 5m
Height: 3.3m
Mass: 8.5 tonnes
Heat shield: Largest of its kind ever built

Space Shuttle: Height: 56m
World's first reusable spacecraft flew from 1981 to 2011

Falcon Heavy Height: 70m
SpaceX launcher can carry payload of 16,000 kg to Mars

NASA SLS Height: 98.1m
Designed to send astronauts to Moon and Mars

Saturn V Height: 110.6m
Nine crewed flights to Moon between 1969 and 1973

SpaceX Starship Height: 120m
Reusable rocket to send 100 people to Moon and Mars

© GRAPHIC NEWS
Sources: Financial Times, NASA, Spaceline, SpaceX