At the other end of the industry’s payload spectrum, companies are working to achieve economies of scale with heavier rockets. Among the 10 most-launched rockets, the most affordable on a per-kilogram basis are SpaceX

At the other end of the industry’s payload spectrum, companies are working to achieve economies of scale with heavier rockets. Among the 10 most-launched rockets, the most affordable on a per-kilogram basis are SpaceX

Falcon 9 and Roscosmos’ Proton M, both able to lift 20,000 kilograms (44,092 pounds) or more, according to a recent Federal Aviation Administration report. The most cost-efficient overall is the 63,800-kilogram-capacity Falcon Heavy, which successfully test-launched earlier this year. (No cost estimates were provided for several other mega-rockets currently in development, such as NASA’s Space Launch System.)