Comparison of space station cargo vehicles

A number of different spacecraft have been used to carry cargo to and from space stations. This list does not include crewed spacecraft.

Table code key

	Spacecraft under development
	Spacecraft is operational
	Retired spacecraft
§	Pressurized / Unpressurized payload capacity

Spacecraft	Origin	Manufacturer	Launch vehicle	Length (m)	Dry mass (kg)	Launch mass (kg)	Payload (kg) §	Payload volume (m3)	Return payload (kg) §	Diameter (m)	Generated power (W)	Docking method	Status (No. flights)
TKS	Soviet Union	TsKBM	Proton-K	17.51	13,688	21,620	12,600			4.15	2,400	Remote control	Retired (4)
Progress 7K-TG	Soviet Union	Energia	Soyuz-U						None			Remote control	Retired (43)
Progress-M (11F615A55)	Soviet Union  Russia	Energia	Soyuz-U Soyuz-U2	7.2		7,130	2,600	7.6	150[a]	2.72	600[1]	Automated docking	Retired (66)
Progress-M1	Russia	Energia	Soyuz-U Soyuz-FG						None			Automated docking	Retired (11)
Progress-M (11F615A60)	Russia	Energia	Soyuz-U	7.2		7,150	2,230	7.6	None	2.72	700	Automated docking	Retired (27 + 2 failed)
Cygnus	USA	Orbital	Antares	5.14	1,500[2]		2,000[2]	18.9[2]	None	3.07	3,500[3]	Canadarm berthing	Retired (3 + 1 failed)
Dragon 1	USA	SpaceX	Falcon 9	6.1	4,200[4]	10,200[b]	3,310 (max) 2,200 (ave)[c][5]	10.0 / (14 or 34)[d][6]	3,000[e][7]	3.7	2,000[8]	Canadarm berthing	Retired (19 + 1 failed)[9]
ATV	Europe	Airbus	Ariane 5ES	10.3	10,470[10]	20,750[10]	7,667[10]	48	None	4.5	3,800[11]	Automated docking	Retired (5)
HTV	Japan	JAXA	H-IIB	10	10,500[12]	16,500[12]	3,000 / 1,000[12]	14 / 16[12]	20[f][13]	4.4	200	Canadarm berthing	Retired (9)
Tianzhou (basic)	China	CAST	Long March 7	10.6		13,500	6,900[g][14]	18.1	None	3.35		Automated docking	Retired (5)
Progress-MS	Russia	Energia	Soyuz 2.1a	7.2		7,150	2,230		None			Automated docking	Operational[15]
Cargo Dragon 2	USA	SpaceX	Falcon 9	8.1	6,400		3,307[5]	9.3 / 37	2,507[5]	4.0		Automated docking	Operational
Enhanced Cygnus	USA	Northrop Grumman	Antares[h]	6.39	1,800[16]		3,750	27[16]	None	3.07	3,500	Canadarm berthing	Operational
Tianzhou (improved)	China	CAST	Long March 7	10.6		14,000	7,400[i][14]	22.5 (~40 total)	None	3.35		Automated docking	Operational
Dream Chaser	USA	Sierra Space	Vulcan Centaur	16.8[17]			5,000 / 500[18]		1,750[18]			Unknown so far	Development
HTV-X	Japan	JAXA	H3[19]	10[j]	8,300	16,000, combined[20]	4,069 / 1,750	78[k]	None	4.4	1,000	Canadarm berthing[l]	Development[21]
Cygnus Mission B	USA	Northrop Grumman	Antares	7.89			5,000	36	None	3.07	3,500	Planned automated docking	Under construction[22]
Dragon XL	USA	SpaceX	Falcon Heavy				5,000[23]		None			Automated docking[23]	Development[24]
Argo	Europe	Rocket Factory Augsburg					3,400	<13	≥1,000[25]			Automated docking	Development[26]
NYX	Europe	The Exploration Company					4,000		2,500 / 100[27]			Automated docking	Development[28]

The four currently active space station cargo vehicles. Clockwise from top left: Progress, Cargo Dragon 2, Cygnus, Tianzhou.

Notes

1. With optional Raduga capsule.
2. 4,200kg dry mass + 6,000 kg up mass
3. In any combination of pressurized or unpressurized.
4. 34 unpressurized with extended trunk
5. Capsule return.
6. With optional HSRC.
7. Including propellant.
8. Has also launched on Atlas V and Falcon 9.
9. Including propellant.
10. 10 with cargo module, 6.2 without.
11. Combined.
12. Technology trial of an automated IDSS docking port fitted in place of unpressurised cargo module being planned.

See also

• Comparison of crewed space vehicles
• Comparison of orbital launch systems
• Comparison of orbital rocket engines