Across the globe, nations are racing to strengthen their technological capabilities, often repeating the phrase: “Science and technology are the primary productive forces.” Western countries, having started earlier, hold many of the world’s most advanced technologies, particularly in space exploration.
Although China began its aerospace journey later, it has made tremendous progress in recent decades. With increased investment, China is working to close the gap with Western powers.
So, how do China, the United States, and Russia compare when it comes to rocket thrust? Reports indicate that U.S. rockets reach 7,590 tons, Russia’s hit 4,620 tons, but China’s achievement might surprise you.
U.S. Rocket Thrust
The United States, powered by cutting-edge research and top talent, has long led the world in aerospace. It was the first nation to send astronauts into space, and today it continues to dominate rocket development.
The SpaceX Starship rocket is the crown jewel. Equipped with 33 Raptor engines, its total thrust reaches a staggering 7,590 tons — equal to 7.6 million kilograms of force.
This figure is more than 2.2 times greater than NASA’s historic Saturn V rocket. Starship is also the first rocket in the world to surpass 7,500 tons of thrust. Its massive 9-meter-diameter payload bay allows it to carry huge equipment, satellite groups, or even 100 passengers at once.
More importantly, Starship is fully reusable. Using liquid oxygen and advanced staged-combustion technology, it combines high efficiency with low cost. While a traditional launch may cost $200 million, Starship’s estimated per-launch cost is only $7 million — a game-changing reduction.
The Raptor engines are central to this success. They operate under extremely high chamber pressure, similar to the crushing force thousands of meters underwater, ensuring complete fuel combustion and higher efficiency. With lower costs and reusability, Starship is designed not only for satellite launches but also for Mars colonization and deep-space exploration.
Russian Rocket Thrust
Russia’s rockets, though less powerful than America’s, still command respect. The N1 rocket, originally designed for the Soviet lunar program, reached 4,620 tons of thrust with 30 engines. However, repeated failures forced the program to halt.
Later modifications reduced thrust to around 3,500 tons. Yet Russia pressed forward, developing the Yenisei heavy-lift rocket, projected to achieve 4,400 tons.
In recent years, Russia introduced the Angara A5, a heavy-lift rocket featuring a flexible modular design adaptable for multiple missions. While this demonstrates steady progress, Russia still lags behind the U.S. in both scale and reliability.
True to its “nation of warriors” reputation, Russia continues to refine its rocket technology, balancing tradition with innovation and showing no signs of abandoning its ambitions.
China’s Rocket Thrust
So where does China stand in this race?
According to current plans, China’s upcoming Long March 9 rocket will generate 5,873 tons of thrust.
One standout feature is its methane-liquid oxygen engines. Unlike traditional fuels, methane is cleaner: when burned, it mainly produces carbon dioxide and water, reducing environmental impact. Just like Starship, China’s engines are being designed for reusability, much like rechargeable batteries that can be “refueled” and launched again.
China also developed advanced rocket simulation systems, allowing engineers to run full-scale launch simulations before actual liftoff, drastically lowering risks and minimizing potential losses.
Although China entered the space race later than the U.S. and Russia, its rapid progress has narrowed the gap significantly. While Starship currently leads in thrust, China’s pace of development shows determination to catch up — and possibly surpass its competitors.
Conclusion
The future of heavy-lift rockets lies not only in power but also in cost efficiency, reusability, and adaptability to harsh conditions. Larger rockets consume more fuel, require bigger facilities, and demand higher maintenance costs.
Reusability is the ultimate solution to lowering expenses, making deep-space exploration more sustainable.
China, despite starting late, has shown remarkable progress. The Long March series already contributes to major space missions, and with ongoing innovation, China is positioning itself not just as a participant but as a leader in global space exploration.
Through persistence and innovation, Chinese scientists are helping humanity expand its reach into the universe, proving that China’s contribution to space technology is both significant and enduring.
