---
title: "How much does a Space Shuttle weigh?"
description: "A Space Shuttle weighs 78–2,030 t (172,000–4,480,000 lb). How that compares to other things, and where the number comes from."
url: https://atoneplace.net/weight/space-shuttle/
site: "At One Place"
---

# How much does a Space Shuttle weigh?

**Typical weight: 78–2,030 t**

That is 172,000–4,480,000 lb, or 78,000–2,030,000 kg.

The reusable NASA orbiter flown on 135 missions between 1981 and 2011.

> Empty orbiter; the complete launch stack with tank and boosters weighed about 2,030 t.

## How that compares

*Space Shuttle against things of a similar mass.*

- Statue of Liberty: 204 t
- Blue whale: 50–190 t
- Boeing 737: 41.41–79.01 t
- Space Shuttle: 78–2,030 t
- Fin whale: 40–80 t
- Train carriage: 35–75 t
- Sperm whale: 15–57 t
- Humpback whale: 25–40 t

## More about a Space Shuttle

- [How much does a Space Shuttle cost?](https://atoneplace.net/cost/space-shuttle/) — 1,600,000,000 $
- [Space Shuttle vs Boeing 737](https://atoneplace.net/vs/boeing-737-vs-space-shuttle/) — Side by side
- [Space Shuttle vs Train carriage](https://atoneplace.net/vs/space-shuttle-vs-train-carriage/) — Side by side
- [Space Shuttle vs International Space Station](https://atoneplace.net/vs/international-space-station-vs-space-shuttle/) — Side by side
- [Space Shuttle vs Boeing 747](https://atoneplace.net/vs/boeing-747-vs-space-shuttle/) — Side by side
- [Space Shuttle vs Airbus A380](https://atoneplace.net/vs/airbus-a380-vs-space-shuttle/) — Side by side
- [Space Shuttle vs Saturn V](https://atoneplace.net/vs/saturn-v-vs-space-shuttle/) — Side by side

## Common questions

### How much does a Space Shuttle weigh?

A Space Shuttle weighs 78–2,030 t (172,000–4,480,000 lb). Empty orbiter; the complete launch stack with tank and boosters weighed about 2,030 t.

## Related pages

- [How much does a Space Shuttle cost?](https://atoneplace.net/cost/space-shuttle/)
- [How much does a Boeing 747 weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/boeing-747/)
- [How much does a Saturn V weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/saturn-v/)
- [How much does a International Space Station weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/international-space-station/)
- [How much does a aircraft carrier weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/aircraft-carrier/)
- [How much does a Airbus A380 weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/airbus-a380/)
- [How much does a Hubble Space Telescope weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/hubble-space-telescope/)
- [How much does a cruise ship weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/cruise-ship/)
- [How much does a double-decker bus weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/double-decker-bus/)
- [How much does a Boeing 737 weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/boeing-737/)
- [How much does a Falcon 9 weigh?](https://atoneplace.net/weight/falcon-9/)
- [Space Shuttle vs Boeing 737](https://atoneplace.net/vs/boeing-737-vs-space-shuttle/)
- [Space Shuttle vs Train carriage](https://atoneplace.net/vs/space-shuttle-vs-train-carriage/)
- [Space Shuttle vs International Space Station](https://atoneplace.net/vs/international-space-station-vs-space-shuttle/)
- [Space Shuttle vs Boeing 747](https://atoneplace.net/vs/boeing-747-vs-space-shuttle/)
- [Space Shuttle vs Airbus A380](https://atoneplace.net/vs/airbus-a380-vs-space-shuttle/)
- [Space Shuttle vs Saturn V](https://atoneplace.net/vs/saturn-v-vs-space-shuttle/)

## Sources

- NASA — National Aeronautics and Space Administration (https://www.nasa.gov/) [Public domain (US Government)]