The most powerful missile in the world. The ballistic missile "Satan". Falcon Heavy

In the second half of April 2000, Russia ratified a treaty on the absolute prohibition of all kinds of nuclear weapons tests . In the modern world, the Cold War is no longer of great importance, and therefore there is no special need for the availability of strategic weapons. But nevertheless, they were not completely abandoned, and Russia has the world's most powerful R-36M surface-to-air missile, which was given the terrible name "Satan" in the West.

Description of the ballistic missile

The most powerful R-36M missile in the world was adopted in 1975. In 1983, the upgraded version of the R-36M2 missile was launched, which was called the Voevode. The new model R-36M2 is considered the most powerful in the world. Its weight reaches two hundred tons, and it is comparable only with the Statue of Liberty. The missile has an incredible destructive power: launching one missile division will have the same consequences as thirteen thousand atomic bombs similar to those dropped on Hiroshima. In addition, the most powerful nuclear missile will be ready for launch in just a few seconds, even after many years of conservation of the complex.

Characteristics of R-36M2

The R-36M2 missile has only ten warheads with a homing function, each with a power of 750 kt. To make it clearer how powerful the destructive power of this weapon is, one can compare it to the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Its power was only 13-18 kilotons. The most powerful missile of Russia has a range of 11 thousand kilometers. The R-36M2 is a missile based in the mine, it is still in service with Russia.

The most powerful ballistic missile

The intercontinental rocket "Satan" has a weight of 211 tons. It starts with a mortar launch and has a two-stage ignition. Solid fuel on the first stage and liquid fuel - on the second. Taking into account such a feature of the missile, the designers made some changes, as a result of which the mass of the launch rocket remained the same, the vibrational loads arising at the launch decreased and the energy capabilities increased. The ballistic missile "Satan" has the following dimensions: length - 34.6 meters, in diameter - 3 meters. This is a very powerful weapon, the rocket's combat load from 8.8 to 10 tons, the launch capability has a range of up to 16 thousand kilometers.

This is the most ideal complex of missile defense, in which there are independent from each other warheads of individual guidance and a system of false targets. "Satan" R-36M as the world's most powerful rocket, belonging to the class of "earth-air", is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The creator of a powerful weapon is M. Yangel. The main purpose of the design bureau under his leadership was the development of a multifaceted missile that would be able to perform many functions and have great destructive power. Judging by the characteristics of the rocket, they coped with their task.

Why exactly "Satan"

The missile complex, created by Soviet designers and deployed in Russia, was called "Satan" by the Americans. In 1973, at the time of the first test, this missile became the most powerful ballistic system, incomparable with any nuclear weapons of that time. After the creation of the "Satan", the Soviet Union could no longer be worried about weapons. The first version of the missile was labeled SS-18, only in the 80s a modified version of the R-36M2 Voevoda was developed. Even modern missile defense systems in America can not do anything against these weapons. In 1991, before the collapse of the USSR, the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau developed a project for the fifth-generation Ikar R-36M3 missile system, but it was not created.

Now, the fifth-generation heavy missiles are being created in Russia. The most innovative scientific and technical achievements will be invested in these weapons. But it is necessary to be in time before the end of 2014, as at this time the inevitable write-off of the yet reliable, but already obsolete "Voevod" will begin. According to the tactical and technical assignment coordinated by the Ministry of Defense and the manufacturer of the future ballistic intercontinental missile, the new complex will be adopted in 2018. The rocket will be created in the Makeev missile center in the Chelyabinsk region. Experts argue that the new missile system will be able to overcome any missile defense, including the space attack echelon, in a guaranteed way.

Launch vehicle Falcon Heavy

Elon Musk, Chief Designer and CEO of Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), presented the final specifications on April 6 and named the launch date of the world's most powerful Falcon Heavy booster. This carrier will be the most powerful space rocket in the world, yielding only to the Saturn V lunar rocket. The new launch vehicle is a completely new opportunity for both the government and commercial launches. The first launch of Falcon Heavy is scheduled for 2014 and will be carried out from the cosmodrome at Cape Canaveral.

The main task of the two-stage Falcon Heavy LV is to launch satellites and interplanetary vehicles weighing more than 53 tons into orbit. That is, in fact, this carrier can lift into orbit a fully loaded Boeing liner with crew, luggage, passengers and full fuel tanks. The first stage of the rocket includes three blocks, each of which has nine engines. The US Congress is also discussing the possibility of creating an even more powerful missile, which will be able to put into orbit 70-130 tons of payload. Representatives of the company SpaceX agreed with the need to develop and create such a rocket for the ability to perform a large number of flights to Mars with manned control.

Conclusion

If we talk in general about modern nuclear weapons, it can rightly be called the peak of strategic weapons. Modified nuclear systems, in particular the most powerful missile in the world, are capable of hitting targets at a great distance, and missile defense can not seriously affect the course of events. If the United States or Russia decide to use their nuclear arsenal for their intended purpose, it will lead to the absolute destruction of these countries or, perhaps, even the entire civilized world.