How Heavy Is a Space Shuttle?
a Space Shuttle weighs about
68.6 t (75.7 US tons)
- a blue whale150,000 kg
adult; females larger than males; Antarctic subspecies up to 330,000 lb (149,685 kg), North Atlantic/North Pacific over 100,000 lb (45,359 kg)
- a Space Shuttle orbiter68,600 kg
orbiter Atlantis (OV-104), empty weight at rollout, 151,315 lb; about 171,000 lb (77,564 kg) with main engines installed
- an African elephant4,500 kg
adult male 4,500–6,100 kg; adult female 2,000–3,500 kg
- an average new car1,980 kg
model year 2024 US fleet average curb weight
- You
Open full comparison → to add more objects on one scale.
Put it in perspective
- About 2.2× a blue whale
- About 15× an African elephant
- About 35× an average new car
Why weights differ
"Space shuttle" usually means the winged orbiter. Each orbiter's empty weight differed slightly (Columbia was the heaviest of the first generation). The quoted empty weight excludes the external tank, boosters and payload; with main engines the vehicle weighed about 171,000 lb.
Sources
[1] NASA
The Space ShuttleGovernment agency
“Weighing in at 151,315 pounds when it rolled out of the assembly plant in Palmdale, Calif., Atlantis was nearly 3.5 tons lighter than Columbia.”
Value as published: 151,315 pounds · accessed 2026-11-11.
Last updated 2026-11-11.Report a correction (please include a source link).
Related objects
- a semi-truck at maximum gross weight40 US tons (36,290 kg)
- a 40 ft shipping container32.5 t (35.8 US tons)
- a 20 ft shipping container30.5 t (33.6 US tons)
- a school bus14.97 t (16.5 US tons)
- the International Space Station420 t (463 US tons)
- an average new car4,350 lb (1,980 kg)
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Space Shuttle orbiter weigh?
a Space Shuttle weighs about 68.6 t (75.7 US tons) — orbiter Atlantis (OV-104), empty weight at rollout, 151,315 lb; about 171,000 lb (77,564 kg) with main engines installed.
How much is a Space Shuttle orbiter in pounds and ounces?
151,000 lb, which is 2,420,000 oz. In metric terms: 68,600 kg.
Is a Space Shuttle orbiter heavier than a blue whale?
No. a Space Shuttle weighs about 68.6 t (75.7 US tons), while a blue whale is about 150 t (165 US tons) — roughly 1/2.18.
Why do sources give different weights?
"Space shuttle" usually means the winged orbiter. Each orbiter's empty weight differed slightly (Columbia was the heaviest of the first generation). The quoted empty weight excludes the external tank, boosters and payload; with main engines the vehicle weighed about 171,000 lb.
Where does this number come from?
Every source is listed at the bottom of this page with publisher, link, access date and a verbatim quote. Numbers are only published when a qualifying source can be verified.