Silverbird Astronautics

Launch Vehicle Performance Calculator

Propulsion link Analysis link Trajectory link Launcher link

This utility performs an approximate calculation of launch vehicle payload performance from any launch site to any orbit. The methodology used is described here. Blame, credit, and/or comments to John Schilling.

Disclaimer: This is an estimate only, and should not be used for detailed mission planning. For exact performance, please contact the launch service provider.

And yes, Javascript is most definitely required.

Launch Vehicle:
Launch Vehicle Family:
Launch Vehicle Family:
Launch Vehicle Family:
Number of Stages:  
Strap-on Boosters?      # Boosters
Booster 1st Stage 2nd Stage 3rd Stage
Dry Mass, kg
Propellant, kg
Thrust, kN
Isp, seconds
Residuals, %
Default Propellant Residuals?
Restartable Upper Stage?
Paload Fairing:   Mass, kg   Jettison, s

Note: user-defined launch vehicles limited to simple 3-stage configurations. Most operational constraints are not supported. For more detailed modeling of new launch vehicles, please contact us.

Launch Vehicle Model:
Orbiter:
Payload Type:
Core Stage Type:
Series:
Payload Module Type:
Payload Fairing Type:
Upper Stage Type:
First Stage Engine Type:
Booster Recovery Mode:
Number of SRBs:
Upper Stage Type:
Payload Fairing Type:
Orbit Insertion Stage:
Solid Motor Type:
Number of SRBs:
Model:
Booster Type:
First Stage Recovery:
High Energy Stage:
First Stage Engine Type:
Core Recovery Mode:
Payload Fairing Type:
External Tank Type:
Earth Departure Stage:
Fairing:
Booster Type:
Upper Stage Type:
Cryogenic Upper Stage:
Recovery Mode:
Multi-Payload Adapter:
Upper Stage Type:
Payload Fairing Type:
Orbit Insertion Stage:

Atlas V nomenclature:
  1st digit = 400 or 500 series
  2nd digit = number of solid boosters
  3rd digit = single or double-engine Centaur
Atlas V Heavy not yet available
Double-Engine Centaur availability uncertain
Atlas V extended mission kit implemented as required

Delta II nomenclature:
  1st digit = 6000 or 7000 series (6000 series obsolete)
  2nd digit = number of solid boosters
  4th digit = kick motor (5: Star-48B,   6: Star-37FM)
  'H' suffix = GEM-46 SRBs

Delta IV M+ nomenclature:
  1st digit = upper stage diameter, m   2nd digit = number of SRBs
  All versions but Heavy are retired
Delta IV extended mission kit implemented as required

Minotaur-C nomenclature:
  Formerly known as Taurus
  1st digit = SSLV, Commerical, or XL series (SSLV obsolete)
  2nd digit = fairing (1: 63-in,   2: 92-in)
  3rd digit = 3rd stage (1: Orion 38,   3: Star 37)
  4th digit = 4th stage (0: None,   3: Star 37)

H-IIA nomenclature:
  1st digit = number of core stages
  2nd digit = number of liquid boosters
  3rd digit = number of SRB-A solid boosters
  4th digit = number of SSB solid boosters

Note: Upper stage not recommended for Low Earth Orbit missions

Commercial Soyuz nomenclature:
  Starsem 'Soyuz ST' = Soyuz FG or Soyuz 2-1A
  Starsem 'Soyuz ST+' = Soyuz 2-1B
  Starsem 'Soyuz 1' = Soyuz 2-1v

Commercial Zenit nomenclature:
  'Sea Launch' = Zenit 3SL
  'Land Launch' = Zenit 2SLB or Zenit 3SLB
Zenit not presently available due to Russian invasion of Ukraine

Ariane 4 nomenclature:
  1st digit = family designation
  2nd digit = number of strap-on boosters
  suffix = booster type (P: solid,   L: liquid,   LP: both)

Falcon 9 nomenclature:
  Block 1 is retired
  Block 2 also known as "v1.1" or "Falcon 9R", retired
  Block 3 also known as "v1.2" or "Full Thrust", retired
  Block 4 is retired

Falcon Heavy:
  Booster launch site recovery preferred
  Core ocean recovery preferred
  Long payload fairing is standard
  Booster crossfeed no longer being developed

SLS Configurations:
  Block 1 Core: 4 RS-25E engines
  Block 1A & 2: 4 RS-25D engines
  iCPS: Interim Cryo Propulsion Stage, 1 RL-10 Engine
  LUS: Large Upper Stage, 4 RL-10 Engines
  EDS: Earth Departure Stage, 2 J-2X Engines
  FSB: Shuttle-Derived Five-Segment Booster
  ASB: Advanced Solid Booster
  LHB: Liquid Hydrocarbon Booster

Safir retired 2009
Safir B probably retired 2019
Safir Block II was proposed upgrade w/2 solid boosters & kick stage, never flown
Safir 2 was proposed name for vehicle now known as Simorgh, see separate entry
Extremely limited engineering data available on this vehicle

KSLV-1 assumed to use downrated Angara 1st stage and KSR-1 upper stage

Extremely limited engineering data available on this vehicle

Antares nomenclature:
  1st digit = 1st stage engine (NK-33 or RD-181)
  2nd digit = 2nd stage motor (Castor 30A, Castor 30B, or Castor 30XL)
  3rd digit = upper stage type(None, Bipropellant, or Star 48BV)
 
'Antares' formerly known as 'Taurus II'
Antares not presently available due to Russian invasion of Ukraine

CZ-5 Nomenclature: CZ-xxx or CZ-5-xxx
  1st digit = nominal core diameter, meters
  2nd digit = number of 2-meter strap-on boosters
  3rd digit = number of 3-meter strap-on boosters
  Long March 5B is CZ-504 without second stage
  /HO suffix = optional cryogenic upper stage
  Yuanzgeng transfer stages used for MEO & GEO direct insertion
  Long March 8 recovery not yet available, performance estimated

Vulcan nomenclature:
  1st character = first stage type (Vulcan)
  2nd character = upper stage type (Centaur)
  3rd character = number of solid boosters
  4th character = fairing type (Standard or Long)
"Vulcan Upgrade" will use 6 boosters, improved upper stage
Centaur extended mission kit implemented as required

Electron upper stage options:
  standard kick stage provides precision deployment in LEO
  "Photon LEO" provides increased performance to low orbits
  "Photon IP" optimized for hyperbolic escape trajectories

Normally based at Mojave but can easily use any launch range

Starship Nomenclature
  "Prototype" = best guess of current system as of December 2022
  "Intermediate" = average of Prototype and Evolved
  "Evolved" = system matching SpaceX's stated plans
All configurations include Super Heavy & Starship recovery at launch site
Orbital refuelling of Starship not supported by this model

Extremely limited engineering data available on this vehicle

Also known as KSLV-II

H3 nomenclature:
  1st character = number of cire stage engines
  2nd character = number of solid boosters)
  3rd character = fairing type (Short or Long)
"H3 Heavy" is proposed version with two liquid boosters
Heavy performance is speculative at this time

Launch Site:
Site Name:
Site Name:
Latitude, deg:
  Minimum Azimuth, deg:
  Maximum Azimuth, deg:
Destination:
Apogee, km       Hyperbolic C3, km2/s2
Perigee, km Perigee, km
Inclination, deg Declination, deg

Note: Perigee altitudes <100 km not recommended

Trajectory:    
Shutdown Mode:    
Calibration:    
Upper Stage Disposal:    

Note: May require up to one minute for complex missions

Defense link Awareness link Assessment link IHPRPT link