The Heaviest Satellites That Are Launched to Space
Overview
These are the heaviest satellites we have launched into space, based on the interactive table representation of the UCS Satellite Database (1 Jan, 2022) compiled by the Union of Concerned Scientist (UCS).
The heaviest satellite launched into space is Tianhe of China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) with a launch mass of 22,500kg. The second heaviest satellite is USA 314 of National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) at 20,000kg, followed by USA 245 of National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) at 18,000kg. The masses of the satellites that our world has launched into space can range from 1kg to 22,500kg, with the average launch mass being 846.7kg.
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Let's look at some of the world's heaviest satellites:
Heaviest satellite launched into space at 22,500 kg
Tianhe is a government satellite operated by China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) (China) for the purpose of space science.
Constructed by Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST) (China), it was launched into space on 29 April 2021 using Long March 5B as the launch vehicle from Wenchang Space Center. Tianhe orbits around the Earth as a non-polar inclined LEO satellite.
Designated with COSPAR ID 2021-035A and NORAD ID 48275, Tianhe is designed to operate in space for a lifetime of 15 years. It has a launch mass of 22,500 kg.
Taking 92 minutes to orbit the Earth, the satellite's perigee, which is the point of the orbit closest to the Earth's center of mass, is 170km while its apogee, which is the point of the orbit farthest from the Earth's center of mass, is 381km. The eccentricity of the orbit is 1.59E-02 and it orbits at an inclination of 41 degrees to the equatorial plane of the Earth.
Second heaviest satellite launched into space at 20,000 kg
Designed for earth observation (Optical Imaging), USA 314 is a military satellite operated by National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) (USA).
A sun-synchronous LEO satellite, it was launched into space using Delta 4 Heavy as the launch vehicle from Vandenberg AFB on 26 April 2021. USA 314 was constructed by Lockheed Martin (USA).
Designated with COSPAR ID 2021-032A and NORAD ID 48247, USA 314 is designed to operate in space for a lifetime of 5 years. It has a launch mass of 20,000 kg.
With an orbital eccentricity of 1.67E-02, the satellite's perigee, which is the point of the orbit closest to the Earth's center of mass, is 524km while its apogee, which is the point of the orbit farthest from the Earth's center of mass, is 758km. It takes 98 minutes to orbit the Earth at an inclination of 98 degrees to the equatorial plane of the Earth.
Third heaviest non-polar inclined satellite launched into space at 11,110 kg
Operated by European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA of ESA/USA, Hubble Space Telescope is a government satellite launched for the purpose of space science.
A non-polar inclined LEO satellite, it was launched into space using Space Shuttle (STS 31) as the launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral on 25 April 1990. Hubble Space Telescope was constructed by European Space Agency/NASA (International).
With a launch mass of 11,110kg, Hubble Space Telescope is designed to operate in space for a lifetime of 10 years. It orbits around the Earth with the COSPAR ID 1990-037B and NORAD ID 20580.
Using its self-produced usable power of 2400 watts, Hubble Space Telescope orbits at an inclination of 29 degrees to the equatorial plane of the Earth.
The satellite's perigee, which is the point of the orbit closest to the Earth's center of mass, is 555km while its apogee, which is the point of the orbit farthest from the Earth's center of mass, is 559km. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 2.89E-04 and it takes 96 minutes to orbit the Earth.
Compare Hubble Space Telescope with Starlink-1469 from USA.
Compare Hubble Space Telescope with OneWeb-0069 from United Kingdom.
Second heaviest GEO satellite launched into space at 7,600 kg
Designed for technology development, Shijian 20 is a government satellite operated by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) (China).
A sun-synchronous GEO satellite, it was launched into space using Long March 5 as the launch vehicle from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on 27 December 2019. Shijian 20 was constructed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC) (China).
With a launch mass of 7,600kg, Shijian 20 is designed to operate in space for a lifetime of 20 years. It orbits around the Earth with the COSPAR ID 2019-097A and NORAD ID 44910.
With an orbital eccentricity of 8.66E-04, the satellite's perigee, which is the point of the orbit closest to the Earth's center of mass, is 35,751km while its apogee, which is the point of the orbit farthest from the Earth's center of mass, is 35,824km. It takes 1,436 minutes to orbit the Earth along the longitude of 125 degrees.
Third heaviest GEO satellite launched into space at 7,075 kg
Operated by Telesat Canada Ltd. (BCE, Inc.) of Canada, Telstar 19 Vantage is a commercial satellite launched for the purpose of communications.
Constructed by Space Systems/Loral (USA), it was launched into space on 22 July 2018 using Falcon 9 as the launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral. Telstar 19 Vantage orbits around the Earth as a GEO satellite.
Telstar 19 Vantage has a launch mass of 7,075 kg and is expected to have a operational lifetime of 15 years. It navigates with the COSPAR ID 2018-059A and NORAD ID 43562.
Taking 1,436 minutes to orbit the Earth, the satellite's perigee, which is the point of the orbit closest to the Earth's center of mass, is 35,780km while its apogee, which is the point of the orbit farthest from the Earth's center of mass, is 35,792km. The eccentricity of the orbit is 1.42E-04 and it orbits along the Earth longitude of -63 degrees.
Heaviest satellite launched by Sirius XM Holdings into space at 7,000 kg
A commercial satellite, Sirius XM-8 is operated by Sirius XM Holdings of USA for the purpose of communications.
Constructed by Maxar (USA), it was launched into space using Falcon 9 as the launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral on 6 June 2021. Sirius XM-8 orbits around the Earth as a GEO satellite.
Sirius XM-8 has a launch mass of 7,000 kg and is expected to have a operational lifetime of 15 years. It navigates with the COSPAR ID 2021-049A and NORAD ID 48838.
With an orbital eccentricity of 1.78E-04, the satellite's perigee, which is the point of the orbit closest to the Earth's center of mass, is 35,779km while its apogee, which is the point of the orbit farthest from the Earth's center of mass, is 35,794km. It takes 1,436 minutes to orbit the Earth.
With generated usable power of 18000 watts, Sirius XM-8 orbits along the longitude of -121 degrees.
Third heaviest satellite launched into space in 2019 at 6,956 kg
JCSat18/Kacific 1 is a commercial satellite operated by Sky Perfect JSAT Corporation and Kacific (Japan/Singapore) for the purpose of communications.
A GEO satellite, it was launched into space using Falcon 9 as the launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral on 17 December 2019. JCSat18/Kacific 1 was constructed by Boeing Satellite Systems (USA).
Designed with an operational lifetime of 15 years, JCSat18/Kacific 1 has a launch mass of 6,956 kg and navigates with the COSPAR ID 2019-091A and NORAD ID 44868.
Taking 1,436 minutes to orbit the Earth, the satellite's perigee, which is the point of the orbit closest to the Earth's center of mass, is 35,779km while its apogee, which is the point of the orbit farthest from the Earth's center of mass, is 35,800km. The eccentricity of the orbit is 2.49E-04 and it orbits along the Earth longitude of 150 degrees.
Heaviest satellite launched by Echostar Satellite Services, LLC into space at 6,900 kg
A commercial satellite, Echostar 21 is operated by Echostar Satellite Services, LLC of USA for the purpose of communications.
Constructed by Space Systems/Loral (USA), it was launched into space on 7 June 2017 using Proton as the launch vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome. Echostar 21 orbits around the Earth as a GEO satellite.
With a launch mass of 6,900kg, Echostar 21 is designed to operate in space for a lifetime of 15 years. It orbits around the Earth with the COSPAR ID 2017-032A and NORAD ID 42749.
Echostar 21 orbits along the longitude of 10 degrees at an inclination of 7 degrees.
The satellite's perigee, which is the point of the orbit closest to the Earth's center of mass, is 35,773km while its apogee, which is the point of the orbit farthest from the Earth's center of mass, is 35,799km. Its orbit has an eccentricity of 3.08E-04 and it takes 1,436 minutes to orbit the Earth.
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By Launch Vehicle: Cape Canaveral | Baikonur Cosmodrome | Guiana Space Center | International Space Station | Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center | Plesetsk Cosmodrome | Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 | Satish Dhawan Space Centre | Taiyuan Launch Center | Vandenberg AFB | Xichang Satellite Launch Center | Boeing Satellite Systems | Airbus Defense and Space | EADS Astrium | Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems | Space Systems/Loral | Surrey Satellite Technology | Technical University Berlin | Thales Alenia Space