lemonade

> Was it designed for the Buran shuttle or was it really for a Mars mission
and bigger space stations? I understood the configuration of the ruskie
shuttle was similar to US with external thrusters, but being liquid rather
than solid fuel allowing throttle control. The comparrison in cargo lift
capacity is like a 707 jet liner and the C5a Galaxy :-).

Apparently it depends on how many boosters you strapped on the side of the
Energia. It seems it was designed
to take up to 8. Here's some figures I collected via a quick troll through
Google:

Saturn V = 285,000 lb to LEO and 107,000 lb. to the Moon
Energia = 210,000 pounds LEO (8 Strap on boosters)
Energia = 100,000 pounds LEO (4 Strap on boosters)
Shuttle = 63,500 pounds LEO.
Delta IV = 28,950 pounds LEO
Ariane V = 39,600 pounds LEO
Proton K = 45,320 pounds LEO
Titan IV = 47,800 pounds LEO