Data Quality83%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the military space launch vehicles category.
01 / Overview
Space Shuttle
Category
Country
Production
1981–2011
Quantity
6
Unit Price (current)
$644.1M↗ 43% inflation · 2011→2025
Original Price
$450.0M (2011)
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
MILITARY SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLES · COLD WAR
3
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
45
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
$644.1M
Original: $450.0M (2011)
Inflation: +%43
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the military space launch vehicles category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- Vehicle Typepartially reusable launch system and space plane
- First Flight1981
- ManufacturerUnited Space Alliance, Thiokol/Alliant Techsystems, Lockheed Martin/Martin Marietta, Boeing/Rockwell
- Stages1
- StatusRetired
- In ServiceNo
◈Performance7MOD.7
- Payload to LEO27,500 kg
- Payload to GTO4,940 kg
- Liftoff Thrust26,689
- Liftoff Mass2,030 t
- Height56 m
- Diameter8.7 m
- Success Rate133
▣Propulsion5MOD.5
- First-Stage Propellantliquid hydrogen / liquid oxygen
- First-Stage Engines3
- ReusableYes
- Human-RatedYes
- Total Launches135
◇Cost2MOD.2
- Cost per Launch450,000,000 USD
- Cost per kg to LEO16,363 USD
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANRetired
- 1981Production started
- 2011Production ended
45
years in service
30
years in production
6
units produced
0
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country no longer actively operates it. 1 countries retired it.
05 / MASS Score
MILITARY SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLES RANKING Military Space Launch Vehicles · Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
23MILITARY SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLES3COLD WAR · MILITARY SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLES1165UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS4PRICE · MILITARY SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLES73PRICE · ALL WEAPONS161PERFORMANCE/PRICE · MILITARY SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLES
ⓘ Rankings are within theMilitary Space Launch Vehiclescategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE2terms
Capable of carrying human passengers, meeting safety and reliability standards for human spaceflight.
Reusable: a characteristic of riot‑control equipment or munitions that permits recovery, maintenance, and redeployment after use.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources