US acquires new heavy launch vehicle

8

The Americans are increasing their potential and capabilities in space. After several years of postponements, on January 16, 2025, at 10:03 Moscow time, the first launch of the two-stage heavy launch vehicle New Glenn was carried out from the Cape Canaveral spaceport (Florida) by Blue Origin (owned by billionaire Jeffrey Bezos).

It should be noted that the said RN, equipped with seven BE-4 engines, successfully (as planned) sent the Blue Ring test payload, a multipurpose platform for space logistics, into orbit. Thus, the US acquired a new (another) heavy rocket for space exploration. The New Glenn has been under development since 2012. The first stage is reusable (in the future).



Note that the second stage with a non-separable payload was launched into orbit. An attempt to land the first stage on a floating platform ended in failure.


New Glenn is significantly inferior in its characteristics to the Starship of the American company SpaceX (owned by billionaire Elon Musk) and other competitors. But now Washington already has four heavy and super-heavy class transport systems at its disposal.

We remind you that New Glenn can launch 45 tons of payload into low reference orbit (LEO), Falcon Heavy – 63 tons, Space Launch System – 130 tons, and Starship up to 150 tons. Unfortunately, Russia cannot boast such a variety of powerful launch vehicles yet.
8 comments
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  1. Afinogen
    Afinogen
    +4
    16 January 2025 21: 02
    Russia cannot yet boast of such a variety of powerful launch vehicles.

    We have a good reason. When we asked Rogozin (head of Roscosmos) where is Zin's money? He answered that he spent all the big money allocated to him on the robot Fedor. He said that he can't be distracted and build a robot and launch rockets.
  2. AlexSam
    AlexSam
    +4
    17 January 2025 00: 17
    Is it too much of a stretch to restore production of the 200-ton Energy launch vehicle, which easily lifted Buran into orbit? Or is it better to spend budgets on inventing the Angara, which can barely lift 40 tons?
    1. Platon Verdictov
      Platon Verdictov
      0
      17 January 2025 19: 23
      There is simply no one to remind the witness of only galoshes in the godless USSR about it, otherwise...
    2. k7k8
      k7k8
      0
      18 January 2025 15: 50
      Quote: AlexSam
      intestine

      It's not about the thickness of the intestines, but about the fact that the Energia-Buran project was a product implemented within the framework of union integration. This means that now the connections have been lost, the logistics chains have been disrupted, the documentation has been lost, and the launch itself has been abandoned. In addition, the 40-year-old project is outdated in principle. There is no point in reviving it. But it is certainly necessary to develop something new and our own. And for better or worse, but the matter is moving forward.
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  4. isofat
    isofat
    +2
    17 January 2025 22: 20
    Until the citizens of the United States recover the technology that allows them to fly to the moon, I will recognize their achievement as an achievement in the field of advertising. Yes
  5. k7k8
    k7k8
    +1
    18 January 2025 15: 55
    We remind you that New Glenn can launch 45 tons of payload into low reference orbit (LEO), Falcon Heavy – 63 tons, Space Launch System – 130 tons, and Starship up to 150 tons.

    The author is stretching the owl a bit. Of all the above, only Musk with Falcon Heavy has entered commercial implementation. All the others are still at the test flight stage. That is, the US currently has only one really working heavy-class launch vehicle.
  6. sannyhome
    sannyhome
    0
    18 January 2025 18: 15
    45 tons of payload, Falcon Heavy – 63 tons, Space Launch System – 130 tons, and Starship up to 150 tons.

    And the Russian Federation only has Proton with its 24 tons... What can I say...
  7. Kiril
    Kiril
    0
    26 January 2025 17: 15
    Two-stage, why? belay