And then you compare that to the rockets that the Soviets and Americans were making 60 years ago. America went from small lift rockets to a superheavy in 10 years. China went from making orbit in 1970 to their first cryogenic rocket launch in 2015. Sure you can argue that the space race wasn't subsintable and both parties basically burn a lot of money, but at the same time, China in the 2000s is a much much larger economy and has a deeper knowledge base and has the advantages modern computer design software and electronics.
Makes it even worse that China is still so behind in reusable rockets then right? What the point of better engine if it's never used to it's full potential. It's not a win when you realize that China had a engine better designed for reusability but still unable to land a rocket almost 10 years after SpaceX did.
Like I already said. Just compare Blue Orgin and SpaceX. On paper both should be very similar. American private rocket companies funded by billionaires that are working towards reusable rockets, they are even of similar ages. On paper, the BE-4 is also superior to the Merlin. The difference is that BO moves at a snail's pace despite being similar to SpaceX on paper. On paper, you would think that they would develop at a similar pace. Institutional culture makes a big difference in the working of organizations.
Hence what I literally just said in my last post about becoming complacent. Which American space agencies became after winning the space race. You're literally just repeating my point here. American/Russian space agencies also became stuck in a rut since the 80s until SpaceX shook things up. There's a reason why the entire industry stagnated for so long.
In the long run, a modernized Saturn V would have saved them the costs of trying to re-develop the technology with the SLS and avoided all the current drama with the current space race we're seeing today.
So why doesn't China have one today? When America was capable of designing superheavy rockets in the 1960s with slide rulers?
Stop. Just stop. A superheavy rocket isn't useless. We have already been though this. Just because America became complacent and lazy too doesn't give China an excuse. Most American also criticize the decision to basically abandon superheavy lift rocket technology too. Would have saved them a lot of headache in trying to basically redevelop the technology in the form of the SLS from scratch
What's next, nuclear power is useless because the West thinks that it's too expensive and stopped building them? High speed rail is useless because America decided not to invest in it and thinks that planes are better?
Or when you're launching payloads into deep space and want them to arrive before you die of old age. Or when you want to launch billion dollar payloads like JWST or Mars sample missions. Or when you're in a new cold war and you're trying to score a series of PR wins with your geopolitical rival via lunar missions.
I wouldn't use modern Russia as a example of cutting edge space technology here. And they still stopped producing it. At this rate, China will be flying the last CZ-3 somewhere in the 2030s.
Yeah two decade ago. Now China's newest ICBM are all solid fueled rockets. You know what else is dual use? Combustion of RP-1 and oxygen in a high pressure environment, it's obvious why every nation that excelled at making cryogenic rocket engines were also excelled at making jet engines. You might even question if this is one of the reason why China lagged behind Russian/Western jet engines so badly in the 2000s.
It's not like China is anywhere close to phasing out hypergolics. Despite many statements, actions by the state agencies, more hypergolics then ever are flying and the production and launch of cryogenic rockets like the CZ-6/8 are at a snail's pace.
Bullshit. Not when you consider modern advancements in cryogenic pressurization or considering uses of fuels like the use of hydrogen in 2nd stages for their higher ISP.
It's not like China is doing anything new with hyergolic engines anyway. When I said 40 year old rockets I meant it. It's not like they're developing something like the RD-270 or doing anything new with the techologny, just minor upgrades and variants of the same baseline rockets and engines.
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