What is the largest and/or heaviest object that could be sent to space? I know the space station is sent in pieces but I am looking with one launch.
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$\begingroup$ Related: space.stackexchange.com/questions/13657/… $\endgroup$– Russell BorogoveJul 17, 2018 at 21:25
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18$\begingroup$ The Moon? Of course, it required advanced techniques, and there were some side effects... $\endgroup$– Don BransonJul 17, 2018 at 22:10
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7$\begingroup$ Are you asking about what could be done now, or have been done in recent history, or about fundamental scientific limits to what could be done in the future? Your question isn't quite clear. $\endgroup$– Steve LintonJul 18, 2018 at 2:06
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2$\begingroup$ If it should be large only, a balloon satellite like Echo 2 with a diameter of 41 m will be the largest possible object. $\endgroup$– UweJul 18, 2018 at 9:25
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1$\begingroup$ Also, "to space", is quite vague. Just reach the Kármán line (100 km ASL, the commonly accepted limit between the atmosphere and space)? Get into LEO? Get into another orbit? Reach escape velocity? $\endgroup$– jcaronJul 18, 2018 at 11:51
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3 Answers
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Historically, the heaviest payloads that reached orbit were the Apollo missions; the third stage of the Saturn V booster plus the Apollo spacecraft combined exceeded 140 tons in low Earth orbit. The lower two stages alone could put over 120 tons in orbit; such a configuration was used to launch the Skylab space station in a single 77-ton piece.
Today, the highest-capacity operational launcher is the Falcon Heavy, allegedly capable of putting over 50 tons into orbit (though the figures are pretty unclear). Delta IV Heavy (28 tons) and Long March 5 (25 tons) are the 2nd and 3rd place finishers.
Unlike the largest historical launchers (Saturn V, Energia, and STS), which carried payload at least partially externally (if you count the STS orbiter as payload), the modern heavy lift launchers expect the payload to be entirely contained within a fairing, which sets limits on the physical size of the payload. Long March 5 and Falcon use a 5.2 meter diameter fairing, Delta IV a 5.1 meter fairing -- various different lengths are available.
answered Jul 17, 2018 at 21:36
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$\begingroup$ Payload mass for Block 2 for the Space Launch System is expected to be able to place over 140 tons into Low Earth Orbit. Until SLS, BFR, Long March 9 fly, Saturn V is the only proven heavy lifter. - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/… $\endgroup$– gwallyJul 18, 2018 at 0:59
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I believe the plan is for SpaceX BFR to be able to take 150 tons into space:
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$\begingroup$ More content would help maybe some stats on each.+1 $\endgroup$– MuzeJul 18, 2018 at 4:49
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There is no sensible limit to how much could be launched, just a mater of practicality.
Project Orion's aimed for it's interstellar craft to take 5500 tonnes to LEO, as a "conventional" launcher, Sea Dragon aimed at 550 tonnes.
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$\begingroup$ but orion project, using an atomic pulse engine never had a plan on how to use it before reaching orbit without emitting radiation: there were ideas about using a conventional engine on the ground (which brings the whole discussion back to the kind of engine / payload we can use now) $\endgroup$– EdoardoJul 18, 2018 at 10:29
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2$\begingroup$ The question isn't "what could we send to space without causing radioactive emissions" @eddyce $\endgroup$– user20636Jul 18, 2018 at 10:31
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1$\begingroup$ @JCRM I would invite you to give details in your answer itself regarding the why Project Orion could do it but won't do it. $\endgroup$– CœurJul 18, 2018 at 10:40
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$\begingroup$ @JCRM and if you read I said "..never had a plan on how to use it before reaching orbit..." since orion engines don't exist yet this whole thing is just hypotetical unless the question is "what could we send to space with any possible future technology" then I'd say star trek teleport is a good option too $\endgroup$– EdoardoJul 18, 2018 at 11:43
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$\begingroup$ They planned to use the engines for launch @eddyce $\endgroup$– user20636Jul 18, 2018 at 11:48