By published liftoff-thrust figures, SpaceX says yes—but its figure is a manufacturer claim, not a configuration-specific measurement for the Starship that flew in September 2026. SpaceX lists Starship’s thrust as 1,614 metric ton-force, or 3.5 million pounds-force. NASA lists 8.8 million pounds-force for the flown SLS Block 1, so those numbers do not support calling Starship the most powerful rocket by thrust. The apparent conflict reflects different claims and configurations: SpaceX’s page does not clearly tie its Starship figure to the vehicle that flew, while NASA’s SLS figure is for Block 1.
What does “most powerful” mean for a rocket?
Here, “powerful” means launch thrust: the force the vehicle’s engines produce during liftoff and ascent. On its Starship vehicle page, SpaceX describes Starship as the combined Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy launch system, calls it the world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, and lists 1,614 metric ton-force (3.5 million pounds-force) of thrust. That is SpaceX’s claim, not an independent comparison of every rocket configuration.
Thrust is not the same as payload capacity. How much a rocket can deliver depends on the destination and mission profile as well as the vehicle. A thrust figure alone cannot establish which rocket can carry the most to orbit or to the Moon.
How does Starship compare with SLS and Saturn V?
NASA’s current Space Launch System reference page says the SLS Block 1 vehicle used for Artemis I produced 8.8 million pounds-force of maximum thrust during launch and ascent—15% more than Saturn V. That is a figure for a flown SLS configuration, and it is higher than the thrust SpaceX lists for Starship.
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| Vehicle or configuration | Published thrust | Status and source |
|---|---|---|
| Starship and Super Heavy | 1,614 metric ton-force / 3.5 million pounds-force | SpaceX’s figure on its vehicle page; the page does not clearly identify the exact configuration or tie it to the September 2026 flight. SpaceX |
| SLS Block 1 | 8.8 million pounds-force | NASA figure for the vehicle used for Artemis I, at maximum thrust during launch and ascent. NASA |
| SLS Block 1B | 8.84 million pounds-force | Variant-specific figure in a 2025 NASA technical paper. NASA technical paper |
| SLS Block 2 | 9.44 million pounds-force | Planned configuration in the same 2025 NASA technical paper; not the flown Block 1 vehicle. NASA technical paper |
| Saturn V | Not stated in the cited NASA reference page | NASA says SLS Block 1’s 8.8 million pounds-force is 15% more than Saturn V; the page does not give Saturn V’s thrust figure. NASA |
The table shows why configuration matters. NASA’s larger Block 1B and Block 2 values refer to later SLS variants, not the Block 1 used for Artemis I; NASA’s 2025 paper identifies Block 2 as a future configuration. They should not be described as thrust from a vehicle that has already flown.
What has Starship demonstrated so far?
The Associated Press reported that Starship reached orbit for the first time on September 28, 2026, carrying 26 Starlink satellites. Flight controllers ended the mission early, and the spacecraft splashed down north of Hawaii after about three hours; it tipped over and erupted in flames on splashdown. This was an orbital milestone, but the flight did not demonstrate a complete operational mission or routine recovery. Associated Press
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The SpaceX thrust figure should not be presented as the precisely measured thrust of that September flight: the company’s public page does not clearly connect its listed number to the configuration flown. Distinguishing a published design figure from a demonstrated flight result keeps the comparison in proportion.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does the thrust comparison settle which rocket is “most powerful”?
No. The figures allow a useful comparison of published launch thrust, but they do not settle payload capability for a particular destination or operational maturity. SpaceX’s superlative is a claim about Starship as a launch vehicle; NASA’s SLS figure is explicitly for Block 1 and a later NASA paper gives separate values for other configurations. For the narrow question of which published figure is larger, NASA’s flown SLS Block 1 figure is higher than SpaceX’s listed Starship figure. That does not by itself establish which system is better suited to a given mission.
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