Rockets have always captured the human imagination. From ancient Chinese fire arrows to modern marvels that propel people and satellites into space, rockets allow us to explore realms beyond our planet.
As rockets have advanced, they‘ve also grown to monumental sizes. Let‘s countdown the 10 largest rockets ever built and the inner workings that allow these giants to defy gravity.
10. Space Shuttle (184 feet tall)
The iconic Space Shuttle launched astronauts into low Earth orbit for three decades. With its distinctive delta wing shape and two powerful solid rocket boosters attached to its orange external tank, the shuttle stretched 184 feet tall.
Fully fueled at liftoff, the shuttle weighed a colossal 4.5 million pounds. Its three main RS-25 liquid fueled engines, plus the twin solid rocket motors, unleashed 6.8 million pounds of thrust to heave the spacecraft skyward.
Over 135 missions, Space Shuttles transported satellites, space station modules, and astronauts, including servicing the Hubble Space Telescope. They enabled a plethora of breakthrough research. The fleet’s retirement in 2011 marked the close of a golden era of human space exploration.
9. Energia (192 feet tall)
The Soviet Union’s gargantuan Energia rocket was designed as a counterpart to NASA’s Saturn V. Its core stage alone stood 138 feet, but when equipped with an 89-foot high payload and two 46-foot liquid-fueled strap-on boosters, the entire system hit a towering 192 feet.
This behemoth rocket incorporated four RD-170 engines in its first stage, which remain the highest thrust liquid fueled rocket engines ever built. Together they unleashed 4.1 million pounds of thrust.
Alas, Energia only launched twice in 1987 and 1988 before the Soviet Union’s collapse halted the ambitious project. Nonetheless, the rocket demonstrated that the Soviets possessed similar heavy lift capability to American rockets during the Cold War era space race.
8. New Glenn (322 feet tall)
Named after the first American astronaut to orbit Earth, John Glenn, the New Glenn rocket represents a new breed of commercially-built heavy lift vehicles.
New Glenn includes two massive reusable stages which will stand a combined 322 feet when fully stacked. Its enormous 7-meter payload fairing can accommodate large satellites and deep space habitats.
Once completed by Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ private space firm, New Glenn should be capable of lofting 45 metric tons (99,000 pounds) into low Earth orbit. Powered by seven BE-4 liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas engines, New Glenn aims to lower launch costs through its extensive reusability.
7. Falcon Heavy (230 feet tall)
When SpaceX CEO Elon Musk sought to build the world’s most powerful present-day rocket, Falcon Heavy was born. Combining two flight-proven Falcon 9 boosters with a central core stage generates more than 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff.
This muscle allows Falcon Heavy to carry 140,000 pounds into low Earth orbit – equivalent to a 737 jetliner loaded with passengers, crew, luggage, and fuel.
Towering 230 feet tall and 40 feet wide when its three first stage cores are attached, the Falcon Heavy can lug gigantic satellites direct into geosynchronous orbits. It can also propel spacecraft into Earth-escape trajectories enroute to destinations like Mars or the asteroid belt.
6. Delta IV Heavy (236 feet tall)
A decade before SpaceX debuted Falcon Heavy, established aerospace giants Boeing and Lockheed Martin developed their own heavy lifter – the Delta IV Heavy.
This 236-foot rocket’s core stage sports a diameter of 5 meters (16 feet), allowing it to accommodate extremely large satellites and spaceships. Its unique configuration lights a single liquid-fueled RS-68A engine in each of its three Common Booster Cores to amass 2 million pounds of thrust.
While SpaceX touts new reusable technology, the Delta IV Heavy’s ascendancy and 98.2% mission success reveal that traditional "expendable" rockets also contractor enormous size and power. They excel at rectifying anomalies to guarantee precision payload delivery.
5. Ares I (308 feet tall)
NASA’s Ares I launch vehicle was envisioned as a Shuttle replacement from 2005-2010. Ares intended to heave the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle beyond the International Space Station to lunar orbits.
At a towering 308 feet, Ares’ stack included a 93-foot single solid rocket first stage, a 113-foot upper stage, and the 21-foot Orion spaceship.
Technical difficulties and budget constraints doomed Ares I before its first flight. But NASA transferred critical infrastructure – including one of the world’s largest rocket component construction facilities at the Michoud Assembly Facility and a towering 130-million pound test stand – to later SLS rocket programs.
4. Long March 9 (320 feet tall)
China, the rising titan of spaceflight, has its sights set on ambitious deep space exploration using its next-gen booster Long March 9. Surpassing the rockets that built China’s crowded constellations of communication and Earth imaging satellites, Long March 9 aims to launch lunar and Martian explorers.
The 320-foot tall Long March 9 will weigh an astonishing 2,100 metric tons (4.6 million pounds) when fueled. Its enormous 12-meter diameter core stage will be powered by specially-designed 120-ton thrust semi-cryogenic engines burning liquid hydrogen and oxygen.
Following its debut launch in 2030, Long March 9 aims to loft 50 metric tons to lunar transfer orbit – a capability rivalling NASA’s Saturn V rocket. This muscle will enable China to land astronauts on the Moon and construct its vision for an International Lunar Research Station.
3. Saturn V (363 feet tall)
The Apollo Moon landings stand among humanity’s seminal achievements. This incredible feat traced back to the Saturn V rocket NASA marshalled to launch Apollo astronauts lunar-bound.
From 1967-1973, the iconic 363-foot Saturn V represented phenomenal size and power. Fully fuelled it tipped the scales at 6.5 million pounds as it sat on launchpads designed specifically to support its bulk.
Its five powerful F-1 engines unleashed 7.5 million pounds of thrust. The resulting fire and fury made Saturn V the most capable launcher in history, able to catapult 118 metric ton payloads towards the Moon at record breaking speeds.
To this day no rocket has matched Saturn V’s muscle. It serves as an enduring reminder of hard work and vision’s ability to push boundaries once thought impossible.
2. Space Launch System-Block 1 (365 feet tall)
Saturn V’s legacy lives on through NASA’s 21st century rocket behemoth – the Space Launch System (SLS). After investing $16 billion into its development, SLS promises unrivaled heavy lift capacity for deep space missions.
Initial SLS Block 1 rockets stand 365 feet tall. Taking flight in 2023, SLS Block 1 can dispatch 59,500 pounds to lunar orbit – over 20% greater lift capability than Saturn V. This muscle will enable NASA to not only circle astronauts around the Moon, but to build its Lunar Gateway station opening access to surface missions.
Future SLS upgrades like the Block 1B and Block 2 boast even more monstrous power – perhaps enough to send astronauts to Mars by the 2030s.
1. Starship-Super Heavy (400 feet tall fully stacked)
Eclipsing all past super rockets, Elon Musk‘s Mars-colonizing Starship system promises unequaled size and strength.
Both its Starship upper stage and Super Heavy booster leverage SpaceX‘s reusable launch vehicle technology. Combined they‘ll stand 400 feet when fully stacked – taller than a 40-story skyscraper.
Nine state-of-the-art Raptor engines power the Starship vehicle. But its real secret weapon is the gargantuan Super Heavy first stage with 33-37 methane-fueled Raptor engines. Together these engines will generate 17 million pounds of thrust at liftoff – over double the Saturn V.
This muscle gives Starship the capability to lug 220,000 pounds to low Earth orbit – comparable to the entire International Space Station!
While still deep in development with maiden orbital launches imminent, when operational Starship promises to outsize and outpower every rocket ever built. Its ambition even eclipses Saturn V to enable Musk‘s vision of colonizing Mars.
Conclusion
From the Saturn V that enabled humanity’s first steps on the Moon to SpaceX’s Starship that aims to settle Mars, super heavy lift rockets represent the pinnacle of human technology and imagination.
Driven by the quest for economic prosperity, national security, and enduring human inspiration “to boldly go where no one has gone before”, rocket size and capability will undoubtedly continue marching upwards in the decades ahead.
