You know, even annoying. I just want to close the page, take a sip of tea (or not tea) and languidly say: "Boring, girls … Well, really, boring …"
"The United States plans to abandon the Russian RD-180 engines within the next five years."
Well, yes, I heard it already. And more than once, as it were. AND? What's next? This is exactly how one classic literary character with a primus asked. So what's next?
They have already refused. Then they changed their minds. Now they again tightened the eternal "tra-la-la, we will not depend on Russia" under the harmonica.
Boring. Where are you going to go, gentlemen Americans?
Ah, the BE-4 from Blue Origin … well, well …
Yes, Mr. Bezos's company has been awarded a contract to supply replacements for Russian power plants. That's what The Wall Street Jourmal said, and I see no reason why not believe them. So I believe that VO received the contract.
Under this contract, Blue Origin will supply its BE-4 rocket engines for the United Launch Alliance's Vulcan launch vehicles, and Russia's hegemony will end.
American anthem with a waving flag and stuff like that.
Here are boring things …
There is a devil here, and he, as always, sits in the details. And it sits well.
The contract for the supply of engines does not mean their availability. As well as the word "promising" in relation to the Vulcan rocket means that the rocket, in principle, is, if there are engines. That is, in the future.
There is also a prospect, because the first BE-4 was assembled last year. And since 2016, tests have been going on. And the Americans have been moving the whole project since 2011.
So there is a prospect (especially considering the spark with which the first BE-4 blasted off in May 2017). The prospect is not particularly to turn up your nose and fly on the RD-180. But in the long term, of course, yes. The BE-4 will, of course, replace the RD-180, and the Vulcan will replace the Atlas-5.
The first launch of these missiles is scheduled for 2020. And after 2023, Vulcan will have to replace Atlas-5 with RD-180.
It remains to fill up the car with words like “if everything goes as it should”, “in case of success on tests” and so on.
Who cares - add words and expressions, perspective is terribly interesting, but … But since 2011, the United States, for all the comic nature of the situation, has been paying for the use of Russian "Soyuz" and drills holes in the ISS, because it is not able to take out of an adequate state from orbit astronaut.
We can talk for a very long time about the fact that Russian technology is backward, we have a lot of marriage, we have Rogozin in power, and so on.
Not even that in the USA. Alas. And there is only "Atlas-5" on the Russian engine.
You can argue for a very long time who owns the rights to the engine, and that "who pays, he calls the tune," and so on ad infinitum.
Boring.
So far, I understand clearly that the new US Space Shuttle is not threatened by the word “at all”. As well as the new carrier "Volcano" exclusively in the future.
Well, that's okay, actually. Yes, it is unpleasant for the reputation, but not fatal? Moreover, this year it became clear that no matter what sanctions the United States came up with for Russia, the Americans should not worry about their own.
Both titanium for aircraft and rocket engines for heavy carriers from Russia have gone and will continue to go. The State Duma will not allow any other development of events. United Russia is on guard of good-neighborly relations between countries, despite the sanctions.
But politics is politics. And space is space. And in space, the United States still has only loud statements and bright prospects.
I have nothing against it. Even if BE-4 starts working normally and Vulcan begins to lift everything into orbit, from Coca-Cola to astronauts.
Even so, we don't need to worry.
First, who said that the BE-4 will start working in 2020? Himself? Lost in translation, anyone can be wrong. And I doubt that BE-4 could say it himself. Isn't that the one who saluted in May?
And the same questions to Vulcan. But with a rocket, everything is easier. If there is an engine, there will be a rocket. If it won't - well, then it won't.
It is a fact that, at least until 2020, the Americans will have to fly to the detriment of their image as "the first of the first" on Russian engines.
At least, I have a poor idea of a situation in which they can lose the RD-180. No, I can, but I don't believe in her at all. The situation is simple: no pro-American liberals should remain in power in Russia. And given the liberality of our ruling team, there is no need to count on such bold steps towards the United States.
It's a pity.
In general, our NPO Energomash has a lot to strive for. And there is a vector along which from 2023 (or even earlier) money can be pumped.
It is clear that for this you need to turn your view from West to East.
There, China has been making curtsies for a long time, which is not at all opposed, but even very much in favor of changing its YF-100, which is the most powerful Chinese, but by no means the most powerful in the world, for something more abruptly.
Colleagues from the PRC have hinted more than once that the RD-180 is the very thing. Plus, you don't have to bother with all this nonsense with licenses and patents, since the Chinese used to wrap fried octopuses in them. Wholesale.
Of course, we are not talking about selling technology. More precisely, in China they would like to buy just technology, but … Probably, our relations are not so warm yet. But another five packages of sanctions similar to the Skripalev ones - and relations will warm up just to the level of RD-180 sales to China.
Why not actually sell it?
The result, let's say, is twofold. You can twist it in any way, you can say that everyone can blind themselves in space to anything they want. But if you look even without excessive patriotism, it will be very problematic to do this without Russia.
