Blue Originnew glenThe rocket isOn track for first launchBy the end of 2024.
The rocket is named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, and will be used by its first major customer, AST SpaceMobile, to launch its BlueBird satellites in 2025 and 2026, making it possible to carry mobile devices from space. It plans to provide direct-to-phone service. New Glenn can launch 45 metric tons into low Earth orbit, and its first stage is reusable.
Rocket Lab, on the other hand, has already established itself as a successful launch company with its Electron rocket. contracted with first customer for larger neutron launch rocket. Although undisclosed at this time, the customer plans to purchase two launches, one in 2026 and one in 2027. Neutron can launch 13 metric tons into low Earth orbit and is fully reusable.
Both developments are welcome news to the commercial launch world. SpaceX has revolutionized space launch, dramatically lowering costs and increasing reliability, but the company founded by Elon Musk has become a de facto monopoly. It's good to see SpaceX starting to acquire a strong competitor, although the company hasn't acted as one.
Both Blue Origin and Rocket Lab not only developed viable launch vehicles, but also acquired customers, a prerequisite to becoming a profitable business.
But while the Newglen and Neutron rockets are both competitors to the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, SpaceX isn't resting on its laurels. The company is developingstarshipRecently modified monster rocket6th test flight.
The test flight went well overall. The Super Heavy Booster was not captured by Mechazilla's arm and landed in the Gulf of Mexico. However, Starship accomplished many test goals during its stay in space, including reigniting one of its Raptor engines. Starship landed in the Indian Ocean after stress testing its thermal protection systems and flap controls. Data obtained from the test will help in future improvements to Starship until it becomes an operational spacecraft.
President-elect Donald Trump attended the launch as a guest of SpaceX CEO Musk. The past and future president's visit demonstrated support for commercial space in general and SpaceX in particular. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), incoming chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, also attended.
Once fully operational, Starship will be several orders of magnitude more capable than any rocket to date. Weighing 150 tons, it will be launched into low-Earth orbit and, once refueled, can be launched to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Completely reusable. Monster rockets are central to the plan to send humans out of low Earth orbit. Starship offers users capabilities previously unimaginable outside the world of science fiction.
A recent article in Space Review suggests: New Glenn's launch cost is estimated to be about $67 million. Elon Musk says Starship will cost just $10 million to launch. Rocket Lab is targeting price Neutron will cost $50 million to launch. Considering the payload of 3 rockets, Starship blows away the other 2 rockets.
SpaceX is optimistic about Starship's future.In a recent interview,Gwynne Shotwell, the company's president and chief operating officer, said the Monster rocket will be SpaceX's most valuable part of its ability to generate business. She suggested that as many as 400 Starships would be launched over the next four years, eventually replacing the Falcon series of rockets and Dragon spacecraft.
Many of these 400 flights will be refueling missions to support the Artemis program, which returns astronauts to the moon, and Musk's Mars ambitions. However, SpaceX envisions Starship launching payloads such as Starlink constellations into low Earth orbit. This plan is immense in scope and ambition.
There is no evidence that any Western company is developing an answer to the SpaceX spacecraft. However, the ChineseSpaceship-like rocket conceptLong March 9 is a two-stage, reusable launch vehicle that can lift up to 100 metric tons to low Earth orbit and 50 metric tons to lunar transfer orbit. The rocket could be used to build China's moon base or launch heavy objects such as solar power plants into low Earth orbit.
The Chinese have the future of launch vehicles in their hands. Does anyone outside of SpaceX understand what that future holds?
Mark R. Whittington writes,Why is it so difficult to return to the moon?” Similarly “To the moon, Mars and beyond”, and more recently”Why will America return to the moon?” He blogs at:Karma John's Corner.
