Comparison of space station cargo vehicles explained

A number of different spacecraft have been used to carry cargo to and from space stations. This list does not include crewed spacecraft.

Table code key
bgcolor=khaki width=15pxSpacecraft under development
Spacecraft is operational
bgcolor=lightgreyRetired spacecraft
§Pressurized / Unpressurized payload capacity
SpacecraftOriginManufacturerLaunch vehicledata-sort-type="number"Length (m)data-sort-type="number"Dry mass (kg)data-sort-type="number"Launch mass (kg)data-sort-type="number"Payload (kg) §data-sort-type="number"Payload volume (m3)data-sort-type="number"Return payload (kg) §data-sort-type="number"Diameter (m)data-sort-type="number"Generated power (W)data-sort-type="number"Automated dockingStatus (No. flights)
TKSTsKBMProton-KRetired (4)
Progress 7K-TGEnergiaSoyuz-UNoneRetired (43)
Progress-M (11F615A55)
EnergiaSoyuz-U
Soyuz-U2		[1] Retired (66)
Progress-M1EnergiaSoyuz-U
Soyuz-FG		NoneRetired (11)
Progress-M (11F615A60)EnergiaSoyuz-UNoneRetired (27 + 2 failed)
CygnusOrbitalAntares[2] None[3] Retired (3 + 1 failed)
Dragon 1SpaceXFalcon 9[4] [5] 10.0 / (14 or 34)[6] [7] [8] Retired (19 + 1 failed)[9]
ATVAirbus[10] None[11] Retired (5)
HTVJAXAH-IIB[12] 3,000 / 1,00014 / 16[13] Retired (9)
Tianzhou
(basic)		CASTLong March 7NoneRetired (5)
Progress-MSEnergiaSoyuz 2.1aNoneOperational[14]
Cargo Dragon 2SpaceXFalcon 99.3 / 372,507Operational
Enhanced CygnusNorthrop GrummanAntares[15] NoneOperational
Tianzhou (improved)CASTLong March 7[16] (~40 total)NoneOperational
Dream ChaserSierra SpaceVulcan Centaur[17] 5,000 / 500[18] Development
HTV-XJAXAH3[19] , combined[20] 4,069 / 1,750NoneDevelopment[21]
Smart Upper Stage for Innovative ExplorationArianeGroupAriane 612[22] 25,0007,0007,000[23] Development-->- style="background:khaki"Cygnus Mission BNorthrop GrummanAntaresNoneUnder construction[24]
Dragon XLSpaceXFalcon Heavy5,000[25] NoneDevelopment[26]
ArgoRocket Factory Augsburg3,400<13≥1,000[27] Development[28]
NYXThe Exploration Company4,0002,500 / 100[29] Development[30]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Progress M . 29 May 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090710175743/http://www.astronautix.com/craft/proressm.htm . 10 July 2009 .
  2. Web site: Cygnus Fast Sheet . Orbital Sciences Co. . 7 August 2013.
  3. Web site: The Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2012 . February 2012 . Federal Aviation Administration . 8 February 2013.
  4. Web site: SpaceX Brochure v7 . 29 May 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120320032815/http://www.spacex.com/SpaceX_Brochure_V7_All.pdf . 20 March 2012 .
  5. https://oig.nasa.gov/docs/IG-18-016.pdf Audit of Commercial Resupply Services to the International Space Station
  6. Web site: Overall Dragon Capabilities. 2016-07-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110104010401/http://www.spacex.com/downloads/dragonlab-datasheet.pdf . 2011-01-04 . dead.
  7. Web site: Falcon 9 launches Dragon on CRS-1 mission to the ISS. 7 October 2012.
  8. Web site: Dragonlab Datasheet . 29 May 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110104010401/http://www.spacex.com/downloads/dragonlab-datasheet.pdf . 4 January 2011 .
  9. Web site: With successful splashdown, SpaceX retires first version of Dragon spacecraft – Spaceflight Now. Clark. Stephen. en-US. 2020-04-10.
  10. Web site: ESA Automated Transfer Vehicle . ESA . 7 August 2013 .
  11. Web site: ATV Utilization Relevant Data . 29 May 2012.
  12. Web site: JAXA transition examination of the new space station supply machine (HTV-X) . JAXA . 6 February 2018.
  13. Web site: HTV 搭載小型回収カプセルの開発 . . 12 November 2014 . 2016-10-21 . ja.
  14. News: Upgraded Progress MS docks with the ISS. 26 December 2015. NASASpaceflight.com. 23 December 2015.
  15. Web site: Cygnus Spacecraft Information. Spaceflight101. https://web.archive.org/web/20150909103713/http://www.spaceflight101.com/cygnus-spacecraft-information.html. 2015-09-09. dead.
  16. Web site: Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft reaches China's Tiangong space station . Jones . Andrew . spacenews.com . 10 May 2023 . 10 May 2023.
  17. News: Sierra Space unveils Dream Chaser space plane ahead of 1st flight to ISS (video) . Meredith Garofalo. February 2, 2024. Space.com.
  18. Web site: Sierra Space Spaceplane and Space Stations. January 22, 2024. Next Big Future . Brian Wang.
  19. Web site: H3,H-IIA/Bのミッション割当て(案) . . 8 March 2016 . 2016-03-10 . ja.
  20. Web site: HTV-X, the new unmanned spacecraft now being developed by JAXA . JAXA. November 23, 2022.
  21. Funding for HTV-X development was included in the FY 2016 JAXA budget
  22. Web site: Is Europe Building its Own Starship? Not Exactly. 19 September 2022 . Universe Today. 2022-09-20.
  23. Web site: ArianeGroup: Raumkapsel "Susie" für Fracht und bis zu fünf Menschen vorgestellt . de-DE. heise online. 2022-09-20.
  24. News: Parsonson . Andrew . 2024-05-14 . Thales Alenia Space Delivers Pressurized Module for 21st Cygnus Spacecraft . 2024-06-20 . European Spaceflight . en-US.
  25. Web site: NASA picks SpaceX to deliver cargo to Gateway station in lunar orbit – Spaceflight Now . 2023-06-07 . en-US.
  26. Web site: Foust . Jeff . 2023-02-24 . NASA plans to start work this year on first Gateway logistics mission . 2023-06-07 . SpaceNews . en-US.
  27. Web site: Parsonson . Andrew . RFA-Led Consortium Submit Argo for ESA Commercial Cargo Initiative . European Spaceflight . 20 September 2023 . 22 September 2023.
  28. Web site: Rocket Factory Augsburg . One (c)argo capsule, tons of possibilities! . Twitter . 21 September 2023.
  29. Web site: Parsonson . Andrew . The Exploration Company aims to offer Europe independent access to space . European Spaceflight . 23 February 2022 . 22 September 2023.
  30. Web site: The Exploration Company . Missions . 22 September 2023.

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