Falcon 9 Block 5 vs Space Shuttle
Side-by-side comparison across specs, pricing, and overall score — every value traced to a source.
Verdict: Falcon 9 Block 5 ranks highest overall (#1) with a score of 71.9.
The best choice still depends on which specs matter for your workload — per-metric winners are marked below.
What the numbers hide
Computed from the published values below — no estimates, no generated claims.
Fragile verdict
The overall winner flips to Space Shuttle if LEO Capacity is weighted at 40% (it counts for 25% today). If leo capacity drives your decision, the ranking above may not be your ranking.
Fragile verdict
The overall winner flips to Space Shuttle if Launch Mass is weighted at 30% (it counts for 10% today). If launch mass drives your decision, the ranking above may not be your ranking.
Real tradeoff
Falcon 9 Block 5 clearly beats Space Shuttle on Successful Launches but clearly loses on LEO Capacity — this pair is a priorities question, not a quality question.
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| Metric | Falcon 9 Block 5SpaceX | Space ShuttleNational Aeronautics and Space Administration |
|---|---|---|
| Overall OptiSift Score | 71.9#1 | 59.1#3 |
| LEO Capacity | 22,800 | 27,500 |
| Successful Launches | 609 | 133 |
| Launch Cost | 52,000,000 | 450,000,000 |
| Failed Launches | 1 | 2 |
| Launch Mass | 549 | 2,030 |
| Length | 70 | 56.1 |
| Diameter | 3.65 | 8 |
| Reusable | Yes | Yes |