In 2021, the United States prepared for the first time to run five new missiles, writes Ars Technica.
The publication estimated the probability of the start of each of the carriers: Northrop Grumman Omega (able brings to geosynchronous transfer orbit is 5-10 tons of payload) — the average, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan-Centaur (14.4 tonnes) — medium-low, Boeing SLS (about 20 tons) — low, Blue Origin New Glenn (13 tons) — low, SpaceX Super Heavy (21 ton) — low.
Ars Technica also noted that in 2021, the first to fly Japanese missile H3 (8 tons) and the European Ariane 6 (11.5 tons). The probability of this in the publication identified as average. The newspaper reminds that all the above media (except for Omega and Super Heavy) had to fly in 2020.
In the July edition of Space News reported receiving from ULA, Blue Origin to test the composition of the first Vulcan rocket engine BE-4.
Vulcan is created to replace the Atlas 5 rocket, which is equipped with RD-180 engine manufactured in Russia. Two single-chamber BE-4 installed on the first stage of the carrier Vulcan (in fact, Atlas 6) in aggregate will allow to develop more thrust than a single two-chamber RD-180 first stage of the Atlas 5. Unlike the RD-180, kerosene, BE-4 uses methane. Blue Origin also plans to establish a BE-4 rocket on its own New Glenn.
