SpaceX test-fires its Raptor interplanetary engine

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

The rocket engine is three times more powerful than the one on the Falcon 9 rockets.

The engine is powered using liquid methane and liquid oxygen rather than the kerosene used in the Merlin engines of its Falcon 9 rockets.

Writing on Twitter, Mr Musk said: ‘SpaceX propulsion just achieved first firing of the Raptor interplanetary transport engine.’

He also posted an image highlighting ‘mach diamonds’ – the diamond shaped shock waves that appear in jet flares – within the huge exhaust flame from the engine in the test at the McGregor rocket engine test facility Texas.

The rocket engine uses methane as they are much cleaner than the current kerosene engines.

SpaceX has also said it may be possible to obtain methane from natural sinks on the surface of Mars for refuelling ahead of return missions.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raptor_(rocket_engine)

 

[Ferrum Master]

He also posted an image highlighting ‘mach diamonds’

 

[alucasa]

Awesome BBQ machine right there.

 

[lorraine walsh]

"SpaceX test-fires the engines that could take humans to Mars"

And here I just laced up my new pair of Nikes today that could take me to the Olympics (or maybe not, pun).

 

[Ferrum Master]

And here I just laced up my new pair of Nikes today that could take me to the Olympics (or maybe not, pun).

It just because of the elections... things need to sped up and leave this planet.

 

[Frick]

I'll probably be looking at Musks speech.

 

[dont whant to set it"']

Yet methane has less energy density vs crude oil refined fuel wich means the fuel to oxidizer ratio increases so more mass in the form of fuel , three times the power you say?ok, I cant do an indendent experiment to figure out the numbers( 3 times the power), also sayd methane is "injected" in its liquyfied state in the engine or evaporated. Anyways theres plenty of methane on other planet like moons in this solar system ,now just need for oxidizer plant out there and ferrys can be viable.Oh silly me ,is it 3 times better ,both in accel and max speed?

 

[slozomby]

.Oh silly me ,is it 3 times better ,both in accel and max speed?

the wonderful thing about space is there's really only 1 unit of measure. lbs. of thrust. weight of the payload vs thrust determines the acceleration. fuel capacity vs consumption rate determines how long you can accelerate which is the max speed (excluding external factors like using the moon). for launch vehicles 3 times the thrust means more payload. efficiency getting out of the atmosphere is the key. because once you're out of the atmosphere its far easier to accelerate. getting out of the atmosphere faster doesn't buy much.

 

[dorsetknob]

the wonderful thing about space is there's really only 1 unit of measure. lbs. of thrust. weight of the payload vs thrust determines the acceleration. fuel capacity vs consumption rate determines how long you can accelerate which is the max speed

Our metric friends might take you to task over that
but great Imperial Rules