Saturn V vs SLS
The Space Launch System is frequently described as Saturn V's successor, and the two are close in size and job description: throw a crewed spacecraft at the Moon. The differences are generational, from propellants to program cadence.
Rockets5 min
Saturn V
Saturn V was the NASA rocket that launched the Apollo Moon missions and Skylab, flying 13 times from 1967 to 1973 without losing a crew or payload.
Rockets5 min
Space Launch System
The Space Launch System is NASA's super-heavy Artemis Moon rocket. It flew uncrewed in 2022 and carried the Artemis II crew around the Moon in April 2026.
Key differences
- Thrust and height: Saturn V stood 110.6 m with 34.5 MN of thrust; SLS Block 1 is shorter at 98 m but slightly more powerful at liftoff (about 39 MN) thanks to its solid boosters.
- Cadence: Saturn V flew 13 times in six years at the height of Apollo; SLS has flown twice in four years.
- Heritage: Saturn V was clean-sheet 1960s engineering; SLS reuses Space Shuttle engines, booster segments, and tooling by congressional design.
- Payload to the Moon: Saturn V sent about 43.5 t toward the Moon; SLS Block 1 sends about 27 t, which is why Artemis splits crew and lander across two rockets.
Side-by-side specifications
| Saturn V | Space Launch System | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Boeing, North American, Douglas (for NASA) | Boeing, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris (for NASA) |
| Country | United States | United States |
| First flight | November 9, 1967 (Apollo 4) | November 16, 2022 (Artemis I) |
| Height | 110.6 m | 98 m (Block 1) |
| Diameter | 10.1 m | 8.4 m (core stage) |
| Mass | About 2,900,000 kg (fueled) | About 2,610,000 kg |
| Payload to LEO | 140,000 kg | 95,000 kg (Block 1) |
| Stages | 3 | 2, plus 2 solid boosters |
| Status | Retired (1973) | Active |
| Total launches | 13 (no failures) | 2 (as of July 2026) |
Figures come from each article's infobox; see the articles for sources and context.