Falcon 9 vs Electron
Electron lifts about 1/75th of what Falcon 9 does, yet Rocket Lab has flown it more than 90 times. Small satellites can ride cheaply as Falcon 9 rideshare passengers, but a dedicated small rocket chooses the exact orbit and schedule, which is the niche Electron owns.
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Falcon 9
Falcon 9 is SpaceX's partially reusable two-stage rocket and the most-flown American launch vehicle, with 670 Falcon family flights as of June 2026.
Rockets4 min
Electron
Electron is Rocket Lab's small-lift launcher, a carbon composite rocket with electric-pump Rutherford engines that has flown 91 times since 2017.
Key differences
- Scale: Electron stands 18 m and lifts about 300 kg; Falcon 9 stands 70 m and lifts about 17.5 t with booster recovery.
- Service model: Electron sells dedicated orbits and timing for one customer; Falcon 9 rideshares are cheaper per kilogram but go where the bus goes.
- Technology: Electron pioneered carbon-composite tanks and electric-pump-fed Rutherford engines, both firsts to reach orbit.
- Price: an Electron launch costs about 8 million dollars, versus roughly 70 million for a Falcon 9, but per kilogram the big rocket wins by an order of magnitude.
Side-by-side specifications
| Falcon 9 | Electron | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | SpaceX | Rocket Lab |
| Country | United States | United States / New Zealand |
| First flight | June 4, 2010 | May 25, 2017 |
| Height | 70 m | 18 m |
| Diameter | 3.7 m | 1.2 m |
| Mass | 549,054 kg | 13,000 kg |
| Payload to LEO | 22,800 kg (expendable) | 300 kg |
| Stages | 2 | 2, plus Kick Stage |
| Status | Active | Active |
| Total launches | 670 (Falcon family, as of June 29, 2026) | 91 (as of June 2026, including 9 HASTE) |
Figures come from each article's infobox; see the articles for sources and context.