Russian Senator Alexei Pushkov wondered how the Americans would reach the Moon after US President Donald Trump announced the resumption of the Earth satellite flight program.
Trump on Monday signed an order on the actual resumption of the "lunar program" that was curtailed by his predecessor Barack Obama.
"Resumption" of flights to the moon? Nice. And how will the Americans get there without rocket engines? After all, they can't even get to the ISS without ours, "Pushkov wrote on his Twitter account.
Earlier, the general director of Roscosmos, Igor Komarov, said that "sooner or later" the United States will replace the Russian RD-180 and RD-181 engines of its own production. According to plans published on the Blue Origin website, the American BE-4 should receive a flight certificate in 2017. It is the only American rocket engine that can be used for flights in 2019 before the deadline prescribed by the US Congress to abandon the Russian RD-180.
The RD-180 engine produced by Energomash is installed on all American Atlas-type launch vehicles.
"Resumption" of flights to the moon? Glorious. And how will the Americans get there without rocket engines? After all, they can't even get to the ISS without ours - Alexey Pushkov (@Alexey_Pushkov) December 11, 2017