List of heaviest spacecraft

The most massive artificial objects to reach space include space stations, various upper stages, and discarded Space Shuttle external tanks. Spacecraft may change mass over time such as by use of propellant.

During the Shuttle–Mir program between 1994 and 1998, the complex formed by the docking of a visiting Space Shuttle with Mir would temporarily make it heaviest artificial object in orbit with a combined mass of 250 tonnes (250 long tons; 280 short tons) in a 1995 configuration.^[1]^[2]

Currently the heaviest spacecraft is the International Space Station, nearly double Shuttle-Mir's mass in orbit. It began assembly with a first launch in 1998, however it only attained its full weight in the 2020s, due to its modular nature and gradual additions. Its mass can change significantly depending on what modules are added or removed.

^ David S. F. Portree (March 1995). "Mir Hardware Heritage" (PDF). NASA Sti/Recon Technical Report N. 95. NASA: 23249. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2007.
^ "Mir Space Station". nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 10 November 2001. Retrieved 16 September 2017.

[1] David S. F. Portree (March 1995). "Mir Hardware Heritage" (PDF). NASA Sti/Recon Technical Report N. 95. NASA: 23249. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2007.

[spaceflight.nasa.gov-2] "Mir Space Station". nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 10 November 2001. Retrieved 16 September 2017.

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List of heaviest spacecraft

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